TAM London 2010 impressions

[zooterkin]

I think this deserves a new thread, rather than getting lost in one or more of the TAM London threads.

I'll come back and add more detailed impressions later when I have more time, but my overall impression was that it was very good. The venue was much better than last year, and closer to the setup for TAM8 (though it takes way too long to get everyone out of the main room and up two flights of stairs for lunch).

Not surprisingly, it feels much too short, and the lack of somewhere like the Del Mar Bar on site where you can meet a lot of other attendees, without taking out a second mortgage for the drinks, is a shame (and likely hard to fix in a London venue).

On to the good points; generally very well organised, and an excellent selection of speakers (except for a couple of panellists, they were all different from last year, I think, which I see as a good thing). I thought all the speakers were worth listening to, and entertaining; for me, Alan Moore was one of the highlights; I can understand why some might question his inclusion, but I think a good case could be made for that. Should he return (and I heard him say he would be very happy to, if invited), I think maybe an exploration of his thoughts about magick and snake god worship would be very enlightening, as well as a discussion of psychogeography. The Saturday night entertainment was good (well, the Q&A dragged a bit), including our very own Soapy Sam. ;)

[Professor Yaffle]

I hated every second of it.

[Morwen]

i'm still in London, but heading already for the airport. I'll also post more when I get home, but I thought the whole weekend was great, and the speakers top notch. The best part is that I don't feel too bad about going back to "reality", since that's where I've been the whole weekend. :D

[zooterkin]

I should, of course, have mentioned the pleasure of meeting old acquaintances and making new ones. :)

Still hoping to find the time to write more while the memories are still fresh, but, for those not on twitter, David Allen Green (aka Jack of London) summarises the problem:
Am finding it very difficult to write about #TAMLondon. I type and cliches appear. I type again, and the text screams "FANBOY" back at me.

[Rat]

Enjoyed all of it. Some speakers more than others perhaps, but those that I enjoyed less, others will have enjoyed more, and vice versa, I'm sure. I missed Marcus Chown completely, thanks to failure to wake up, and I'm sure I would have enjoyed that, so that's a shame. Better venue on balance than last year, although I much preferred the amphitheatre layout that allows for better vision.

On the last night I had room service of a meal and pint at the Hilton, and I'll now have to speak to my bank manager about it. As I said in the other thread, I'm impressed by Soapy Sam's performance, but have to wonder whether the magician had shagged his girlfriend or something.

[rhysmorgan]

I really enjoyed it.
It was my first TAM. One of the main reasons I loved it so much was that I got to meet a lot of people who I've been talking to on the internet for so long.
Excellent to finally meet them, and more people who were following me.
I particularly enjoyed the Amateur Transplants and Tim Minchin's performances.
It was also awesome to meet the speakers and get photos with them :P

[saganite]

How many people attended, would you say?

[zooterkin]

How many people attended, would you say?

It was more than 900, less than 1000, from what I heard. Not far short of TAM8. From the show of hands, a pretty high proportion were from continental Europe.

[Rat]

I'm told there were 1200 tickets sold, and 1100 showed up. The crowd was a little thinner Sunday afternoon, I suspect because people left early to get trains or flights. Although the majority was probably British, there was a huge number of other Europeans, as well as a fair American contingent. Didn't notice any Chileans this year, though.

[zooterkin]

I'm told there were 1200 tickets sold, and 1100 showed up.
Oh, wow, didn't hear it was that high. I saw comments elsewhere saying that it didn't sell out, and I thought that 1000 was the limit, but I'd be glad to be proved wrong on that. Given that it was a big jump in size from last year, and I don't think it was heavily advertised, I'd say there was still room for growth, or, at the least, stability, given the right speakers next year.

[Rat]

You could be right. I can't even remember who said 1200 now.

[Rat]

To settle on numbers, would someone like to get counting?
http://www.rattusmaximus.co.uk/forumpics/IMG_1241.jpg

[Morwen]

So, my impressions, in no particular order:

There was definitely a crowd there, and many from the Continent (yay!).

I experienced a weird coincidence: the first person I ever met the day before TAM is the only person from the Forum that I already knew personally, Soapy Sam. It was great!

I got to meet zooterkin (hi!) and, briefly, Geek Goddess and TCS.

I also saw Rebecca without realizing it was her (sorry I didn't say anything!)

Randi slowed my watch down Geller-style, and we talked about parrots.

I saw Richard Dawkins come into the hotel and out again no less than three times, looking confused.

I met Alan Moore!

I also discovered Amateur Transplants, which were great, and Marcus Chown, who was great.

I also listened to a buch of other people I didn't know but who gave great talks and made some good points.

I disagreed with some of the points made by some people, and I enjoyed disagreeing and thinking about why I do.

I met Alan Moore!

Dawkins's talk was thoughtful and inspiring, but his "Science is the new sex" is what will be remembered about it, I think.

I drank too much bad coffee and clapped too much for my own good.

I was suprised by PZ Myers, because he comes off exactly as he does in his blog, and also completely different.

I met Alan Moore!

I now think that Richard Wiseman is the awesomest host alive. I think he was a bit puzzled by my enthusiastic thank you when I ambushed him at the end.

I was in awe by the power of a man with a voice like Hell's own bass band and a very sensible brain, who can say he worships a 2,000 year old snake puppet god and hold an audience of evil, evil skeptics in thrall for an hour while reading a poem, and get roaring applause after that. Yes, he's Alan Moore.

I was scared about the Alpha Course, and endlessly amused by Adam Rutheford's talk about it.

I discovered the coolness that is Andy Nyman and was impressed by Graham Lineham's quick wit.

A Swedish magician performed an extremely cool card trick in front of three of us in a pub.

I enjoyed myself very much.

And I met Alan Moore.

[Rat]

I got to meet zooterkin (hi!) and, briefly, Geek Goddess and TCS.
I know I tend to fade into the background, but you also met me.

[bjornart]

I found it to be excellent. Even better than last year. And I met lots of wonderful people.

But I do have to inform you all I'll sue anyone for libel who repeats the unfounded rumours we cheated our way to the win in the SitP TAM London pub-quiz. :mad:

[Morwen]

I know I tend to fade into the background, but you also met me.
Yes, I know I met you, but I didn't know if you wanted that to be known... Sorry! :boxedin:

[zooterkin]

I was going to sit down and post some more of the highlights for me, but Morwen has just covered nearly all of them!

Sitting with Randi on the Friday afternoon; luckily Morwen and Soapy Sam were there to make some intelligent conversation, while I was just sitting there mostly looking daft. We had the pleasure of the Amazing one's company for well over half an hour, and he told us about his interest in parrots, and a couple of stories of things that had happened to him, made Morwen's watch stop, and explained how solar powered globes work. Meanwhile PZ Myers and Professor Dawkins came and went around us.

In addition to those mentioned by Morwen (and, of course, Morwen herself and Soapy Sam, who were very agreeable companions for the conference), I also met OHP, Mojo, Brodski, Rat, deBergerac (who was the magician entertaining us over pub food on Sunday night), xinit and Sid Rodrigues (who now thinks I'm stalking him), and I saw exarch in the distance. A big thanks to OHP for tweeting that there was a place left on the tour of the Linnean society (and for organising the fringe events).

Thanks to Morwen, who got a book signed, I also got to speak to Alan Moore, who I know think is an even more wonderful human being than I did before. Of course, I just made some silly comment about missing editions of a comic I'd subscribed to back in the 80s that he'd been involved with.

Soapy Sam's 'assistance' with the mentalist act on the Saturday night was a priceless specimen of mild truculence, and a lesson to the magician not to force people up on stage who don't want to be there.

The pub quiz was great fun, though our team (me, OHP and Gareth from the Core cafe, where a load of skeptics had a great time on Friday night) inexplicably failed to win, despite knowing that the answer to one question was the Mongolian Death Worm.

[Chris H]

Soapy Sam's 'assistance' with the mentalist act on the Saturday night was a priceless specimen of mild truculence, and a lesson to the magician not to force people up on stage who don't want to be there.



Ha! Who was the magician?

[zooterkin]

Ha! Who was the magician?

This guy. (http://magiccox.com/)

[Morwen]

Incidentally, deBergerac was the magician at the pub, and the trick he performed was very very impressive. And he's in the preliminary stages of organizing a skeptical convention in May 2012. It's still very early for it to be more than a good idea and enthusiasm, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind a shameless plug here, even if the website (http://skepticon.vof.se/) doesn't really exist as such yet.

Oh, and thanks to zooterkin, who took the pics that prove to my envious friends that I met Randi and Alan Moore!

[zooterkin]

I hated every second of it.
:D
I really enjoyed it.
It was my first TAM. One of the main reasons I loved it so much was that I got to meet a lot of people who I've been talking to on the internet for so long.
Excellent to finally meet them, and more people who were following me.
I particularly enjoyed the Amateur Transplants and Tim Minchin's performances.
It was also awesome to meet the speakers and get photos with them :P
That reminds me, the Amateur Transplants were very good, and the awards were another high point. Good to see Ben Goldacre getting one, and that nice young lad got one too... ;)

[DocM]

I preferred the theatre-like seating at last year's TAM London, but apart from that, the venue was much, much better. Prices at the bar were outrageous, that was a bit annoying, but at least there was a bar. I don't think there will ever be a South Point-like venue in London.

Regarding the speakers: I was pretty happy with the mix. Quite a few people I had never heard about, but was well entertained by, and only two I had heard talks by before. I would have liked Tim Minchin to spend more time performing and less time talking, but after hearing Jon Ronson rap I already felt like the evening had been worth the price of admission.

Oh, and I got to take a lot of photographs of skeptical celebrities holding a sock (see here: http://plixi.com/p/51502528). :)

[Wowbagger]

I hated every second of it.
Aw, that's too bad. Maybe next year you'll like it better after you buy a ticket for it.

[bjornart]

Oh, and I got to take a lot of photographs of skeptical celebrities holding a sock (see here: http://plixi.com/p/51502528). :)

That photo of Dawkins (not the one of Wiseman the link goes to, but with the same sock) was taken 15 seconds before he signed my copy of The Greatest Show on Earth. :)

[Ratatoskr]

TAM London II was great, met a lot of great people, listened to lots of interesting speakers and cursed myself for forgetting bringing my books for Alan Moore to sign.

And if somebody can find the person who infected me so I had to endure a rather painful flight home (clogged up sinuses + pressure difference = pain), I would be most grateful

[Rat]

TAM London II was great, met a lot of great people, listened to lots of interesting speakers and cursed myself for forgetting bringing my books for Alan Moore to sign.

And if somebody can find the person who infected me so I had to endure a rather painful flight home (clogged up sinuses + pressure difference = pain), I would be most grateful
I also began suffering a cold this morning, which is now worsening. I suppose it's inevitable when gathering a thousand people from around the world in one room.

BTW, I preferred your post before you edited it. I can just picture Alan Moore singing the text from your books, and it is a comical image.

[zooterkin]

There's a gallery of some very good photos here - http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/5409438/1/TAM%20London%202010?h=571f62

Soapy Sam features in one of them. ;)

[Soapy Sam]

Just home, via Slough, Cardiff and various other places. A memorable weekend.

Coincidence is sometimes over stressed, but meeting Morwen outside the hotel on Friday morning was pretty improbable. As were the parrots in Hyde Park, which Randi identified from a photograph. (Who knew he was a parrot expert as well as everything else?)

The single most memorable image I will take away is the neutrino image of the sun (you can see it here-) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/cosmicvariance/2006/10/13/sun-shots/ which Marcus Chown showed in his talk. If that's not sufficiently advanced technology to be magical, I don't know what is.

I really enjoyed Sue Blackmore's autobiographical account of her conversion from believer in the paranormal to sceptic. Richard Dawkins' attempt to replace the classics with evolution as a core element of education is, I fear, apt to be stillborn, but it's a fine idea for all that.

I managed to get Randi's support in renaming "Pee-Zee-Myers" "Pee Zed" to fit UK labelling standards. I was amused to see he actually included the "Pee-Zed" spelling on one of his powerpoint slides.

As a UK Sceptic, maybe the most significant speeches for me came from people associated with the Libel Law Campaign -Jack of Kent, Simon Singh and Tracey Brown of Sense about Science. I'm already an SaS supporter, so I'm extremely intrigued by the idea of the "Nightingale Collaboration" (see Martin Robbins' comment here)- http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/the-lay-scientist/2010/oct/16/1 This is one to watch for.

Maybe the biggest surprise I had at TAML was the discovery of comic culture. Morwen and Zooterkin knew all about Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie - both new names to me.
Gebbie's talk was interesting enough to have me hunting for a copy of "The Lost Girls" as a birthday present for a woman friend - and Moore's poem about his hometown was a wonderful description of a place, it's people and it's history. It was like listening to Betjeman on suburbia. "Psychohistory" I knew about. "Psychogeography" came as a fresh surprise.

You never know what's coming at you at TAM. TAML was no exception. Wierd, unexpected, but never dull.

[cow_cat]

My impressions of Tam London?

*Whips out guitar*

Baby you're all that I want
When you're lying here in my arms
I'm finding it hard to believe
You're Eleven.

(Allllllll awesome)

[Ratatoskr]

Wednesday morning after TAM London, still sick. Still had a good time though :)

And yes, jokes about paedophilia are always entertaining. Loved Tim Minchin sining the pope song live on Saturday night

[eclipsemullet]

It was my first skeptical event and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I thought the venue was good, particularly as I was staying in the hotel. A sloping lecture theatre seating arrangement would be better as the view was pretty bad.

I loved Dawkins.

Coffee at Costa at £3.35 a pop is ridiculous.

I thought the Lost Girls talk was pretty irrelevant.

Andy

[Wowbagger]

Am I the only one who thought the Amateur Transplants were rather mediocre?

[Rat]

I didn't find them spectacular, but they were just light entertainment to fill in time. I was a little annoyed that, unless I missed the acknowedgement, they did an adaptation of Tom Lehrer's elements song, including the line about there being a quiz afterwards, without any acknowledgement of that.

[Wowbagger]

but they were just light entertainment to fill in time.I guess they served that purpose adequately.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Am I the only one who thought the Amateur Transplants were rather mediocre?

Yes

[Rara]

we three really enjoyed the whole two days...it passed in a flash. Eating arrangements were a bit unfortunate,i think they needed more food stations....but it was very good food.

Don`t think we will ever be able to afford it again (coming from Ultima thule) maybe JREF could consider live streaming next year...we would be willing to pay a subscription for it.

[ohp]

I think it's the best TAM I've been to yet.

I understand what people say about the flat format, but I think that the non-stage based format brings everyone down to the same level, rather than the us-and-them feel of the sloped theatre arrangement.

Then again, I'm tall, so it doesn't affect me much. I always made sure that I sat on the end of a row, so hopefully I didn't block anyone's view.

London is great in that it's close to a lot of places. Sadly it's expensive, which means people often don't stay long, unlike vegas where people will tend to hang about for a week or so - fringe events often tend to have to be close to the weekend where they fight for time or space, or are further out, and attended mostly by locals.

I hope TAM doesn't become too atheism focussed... it's a popular topic, but I worry that religion doesn't actually affect us as much in the UK as in the USA, and perhaps we have bigger fish to fry. I was a little worried about the question where PZ Myers was asked about a physics professor who was an evangelical Christian.. I would have asked the questioner if he had a problem with the science.

My hope for next year is that I can run a fringe event that creates more of a two way exchange, rather than a place to come and see high profile people. It won't be on the Friday or the Monday though... it'll be a quick fire talk format where anyone can take the floor.

Sorry to all of you who I barely got a chance to speak to.... I think perhaps a forum get together might be in order for next year.. the breaks during the day weren't long enough to sit down and natter.... was always dashing off to check in and out of hotels. Perhaps next year I won't stay at 4 different hotels.

[cow_cat]

Yes, Tim Michin was worth the money.

By the way, a joke about something =/= endorsing or condoning the same.

[Wowbagger]

So anyway, here is a subset of comments about my TAM London 2010 impressions.

Some photos can be found here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=233486&id=530824732&l=39a3e7af2b

First of all, it was, in fact, very amazingly awesome! Anything that I "complain" about, below, are really relatively minor issues, that barely need to be picked on. If it sounds like I am ranting in any part of this, it is only by accident.

London is a very nice city. Unfortunately, my time there was much shorter than I wanted it to be. So, I will probably be returning in a couple of months, even though a lot of the cheeses have weird names. I had originally booked a tour of the city, followed by some parts of Europe after TAM. But, obligations in the States forced me to postpone those plans.

Richard Wiseman was a most excellent host! Witty, and always great with a comeback when technical difficulties prevent things from working smoothly.

James Randi was looking hale and hearty, for his age. But, believe it or not, as amazing as he is, I really didn't trek all that distance just to meet him.

It was especially great see Susan Blackmore, one of my favorite authors of books about the brain. Although slightly repetitive, her history with woo sheds good insight into how she approaches the mind, today.

One of my most favorite presentations was from Richard Dawkins, building an argument that the theory of evolution could, itself, be considered "The New Classics". There weren't any particularly novel arguments in his case. But, they served as a good collection of "Best Of" reasons to study the science. I wish he did something like that for TAM8. All Vegas got was a couple of interviews and (if you were in the VIP luncheon) a relatively fancy meal conversation (though, he didn't even say a lot, there).

Amateur Transplants: Meh.

The first panel, about activism, was not terribly well organized. The mini-presentations went on too long from its members. And that Q&A was all mixed up and rushed through. At least it had some educational value, even if it was not exactly what I would call a "panel".

Tim Minchin did not do very many songs. But, the few he did were masterfully offensive! (And, I mean that as a compliment.) His short film is definitely on the right track, even if it was only a "beta version".
Some of the performers who came on before him were a mixed bag.

More about the Amateur Transplants: I guess I am not a fan of one-liner, heavily-pun-influenced songs. But, I have heard worse. Lots worse. So, that is why I rate them as "mediocre": Not bad. Not by any means. Just not all that great.
I thought I liked one of their songs very much: "The Anaesthetist's Hymn", so I bought one of their albums that has it on it. Listening to it, again, I do not remember exactly what the appeal was, anymore. But, it was worth buying if only because one of them autographed it with the message "Mitch Lampert is Meh". (Apparently, they had already discovered my Twitter feed.)

Marcus Chown really shined when he rattled off his "Top 10 Bonkers Facts About the Universe". But, he really wasted time with those pointless musical montages.

D.J. Grothe really spoke from his heart. His message was very good, I am sure. But, it was very redundant to the one he gave at NECSS, so I ended up not paying much attention to it. Sorry.

The second panel, moderated by Rebecca Watson (who knew she could do anything in moderation?!), about technology, was more like a real panel! Since I am already steeped in this technology stuff, I probably did not gain much from it, myself. Though, I imagine other people did.

I would have liked to have seen Stephen Fry in person, but I suppose the video interview will have to suffice until I can afford to hire him for my next party.

PZ Meyers is NOT a fuzzy teddy bear. He's ANGRY!!!!!!!!!
Don't mess with the P-Zed!

The elusive and imposing beast that is Alan Moore was probably the weirdest presenter ever to appear at any TAM. That is not necessarily a bad thing: It was an honor to tremble in his foreboding presence, after all. But, I wonder what all this had to do with skepticism.

There were several other speakers I have not commented on, yet. They were all very interesting. Perhaps when I have more time, I will elaborate on some of their things.

I came too late for food at the After Show Party. But, at least it offered a great source of interesting conversations, and loud music.

The WORST THING that happened all weekend: It seems I accidentally lost my program guide, somehow. :( It had Tim Minchin's autograph in it, too. I have everything else that was in my goody bag, I think. I never lost anything else, before, at any conference. So, this minor issue remains a black mark on my otherwise spotless record. I will try to ask for a replacement (even if it was not scribbled on by Minchin). But, if anyone else happens to know anything about its fate let me know! Anyhoo... that is how you know it was a great event! Mourning the loss of a program guide is the only suffering it gave me.

At this point in time, I am on the fence as to whether I will return to TAM London 2011. It is very tempting. But, there are sooo many similar events in The States, it might lose out simply because of the diminishing returns imposed by those.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

we three really enjoyed the whole two days...it passed in a flash. Eating arrangements were a bit unfortunate,i think they needed more food stations....

Yeah, too many people, not enough stations, some of the help could barely speak English - "What is on this sandwich?"...."Yes, sandwich"..."Yes, I know what it is, what is on it?"...."Sandwich, yes"

but it was very good food.

You must have been in a different venue than me. :eek:

[Rara]

or maybe my standards are low...no i actually enjoyed it...but did not enjoy gulping it down to return to my seat...no time to get talking with others as well.

[Phlebas]

Did Stephen Fry not make it? I've been out of the loop, so I either missed any comments about him or announcements that he couldn't do it after all.

[Rat]

He did not. I didn't really expect him to, to be honest, not least because of the "strictly subject to availability" or similar that accompanied his name on the adverts. Instead we got an exclusive interview video conducted by Tim Minchin, which was quite entertaining, as you would expect.

[zooterkin]

Yeah, too many people, not enough stations, some of the help could barely speak English - "What is on this sandwich?"...."Yes, sandwich"..."Yes, I know what it is, what is on it?"...."Sandwich, yes"



You must have been in a different venue than me. :eek:

Loth as I normally am to not eat food that I've paid for, I went out to lunch on the Sunday, in order not to spend all my time queuing (to get out of the room, on the stairs, to get into the food room, to get the food, to get dessert and coffee, then to get back in the room again) and to get something I knew I'd enjoy eating, sitting down.

[Rat]

I contemplated getting the food there, but seeing the queues, I just went up in the lift to my room instead and had a sandwich while watching TV and stuff. Anti-social, but much easier.

[Wowbagger]

Yes
Bummer.

You must have been in a different venue than me. :eek:I, for one, thought the food was relatively good, at least by British standards.

[ohp]

I don't remember spending much time queueing at all. I think the trick is not to rush in, and to join queues furthest from the entrance. There's no way you can feed 1000 people instantly, and although queues seem long to start with, ultimately there's a finite number of people who will be eating - the queues were pretty much gone after half an hour.

Even when I was in a queue, I enjoyed conversations with random strangers.. I thought it was one of the best ways to meet people at the event.

[bjornart]

The queues weren't actually that bad, once they sorted out the mess on Saturday where everyone queued for only one of six tables. And the food was excellent. Lots of meat on sticks, how can you not like that? I'm hella-finicky and found the spread to be just perfect.

[eclipsemullet]

I would have liked to have seen Stephen Fry in person, but I suppose the video interview will have to suffice until I can afford to hire him for my next party.



Hear hear. I felt pretty cheated to be honest. His appearance was splashed on the website and he wasn't even there. Bad, I thought. Bad.:mad:

Andy

[ohp]

Hear hear. I felt pretty cheated to be honest. His appearance was splashed on the website and he wasn't even there. Bad, I thought. Bad.:mad:


Dawkins wasn't there for Tam 1. I wonder if it's some kind of deferral option, like you get with jury duty..

[eclipsemullet]

Dawkins wasn't there for Tam 1. I wonder if it's some kind of deferral option, like you get with jury duty..

I know I'll be more circumspect re next year's speakers.

The weekend cost me a lot of money. Dawkins & Fry were non-negotiable to get value for money, in my opinion.

Andy

[Rat]

Hmm, I sort of felt the same about Dawkins last year, but we got him this year instead. So presumably next year we will get Fry, but whoever my next favourite speaker is will not appear.

[ohp]

I know I'll be more circumspect re next year's speakers.

The weekend cost me a lot of money. Dawkins & Fry were non-negotiable to get value for money, in my opinion.

Andy

It's sad to hear you didn't get what you wanted from the weekend.

Personally, I just like meeting new people, the people on stage are but window dressing. I find that it pays not to have high profile heroes, they only disappoint you when you meet them.

Now I'm having flashbacks to all of the high profile people I met that subsequently disappointed me.

Kofi Annan: you know what I'm talking about.

[zooterkin]

Hear hear. I felt pretty cheated to be honest. His appearance was splashed on the website and he wasn't even there. Bad, I thought. Bad.:mad:

Andy
I thought it was pretty clear that his appearance was subject to some uncertainty, so I was sorry, but not surprised, when he wasn't there in person.

My main concern was that we would get some new material compared to the year before and that seemed guaranteed, given the almost completely new line-up of people. (Although Richard Wiseman, while still excellent as MC, could do with finding a few new lines as a lot were repeats from last year.) I was really looking forward to seeing Alan Moore, and I was not let down.

I also enjoyed meeting other people, and that was easier in the hotel than last year in the theatre, though I didn't meet nearly as many as I did at TAM8 (but there was a lot more time then, and nearly everyone there stayed in the venue).

[ohp]

(Although Richard Wiseman, while still excellent as MC, could do with finding a few new lines as a lot were repeats from last year.)

I've come up with a completely original game: Wize-ingo!

emphasises a point with jazz hands
performs the tea-towel to chicken routine
performs the dotted card trick
plugs latest book in the "what's that doing there?" style
re-takes the entrance on stage
needle through the balloon trick
alternative carmina burana lyrics

The difference betweeen wize-ingo and shermingo is that it's born of affection rather than annoyance :)

[Rat]

Well yes, I've seen a lot of RW's routines more than once, but I still find him more or less the ideal MC. I'd like to see some new things, but I have to bear in mind that this is probably the fourth or fifth time I've seen him, but presumably the first time for some others. I'd be getting on to two hands to count the number of times I've seen Simon Singh do the Melua thing, but it is amusing.

[Rat]

Actually I think one of the things that most struck me (apart of course from the speakers) was the number of people who barely glanced at the stage, because they were blogging/tweeting/facebooking/etc. I guess you've got to expect it from a geeky audience, and ed knows I'm prone enough to distraction, but looking over the audience from time to time, so many of them were looking at a screen at any given time rather than the speakers that they may as well have had the speakers in a separate YouTube window. It somewhat reminds me of being in various art museums where you see people walking from one painting to the next looking at them each through a viewfinder.

[Wowbagger]

I've come up with a completely original game: Wize-ingo!

emphasises a point with jazz hands
performs the tea-towel to chicken routine
performs the dotted card trick
plugs latest book in the "what's that doing there?" style
re-takes the entrance on stage
needle through the balloon trick
alternative carmina burana lyrics
You missed the trick where he guesses which card you chose, by removing it from the screen. He ALWAYS does that one. It could probably count as a "free" spot in the middle.

And you also forgot the "Satan's Toolshed" song, which is done often but not always.


Actually I think one of the things that most struck me (apart of course from the speakers) was the number of people who barely glanced at the stage, because they were blogging/tweeting/facebooking/etc. Some of us were fact checking the speakers as they were going on. So, we were paying attention.

[Morwen]

Actually I think one of the things that most struck me (apart of course from the speakers) was the number of people who barely glanced at the stage, because they were blogging/tweeting/facebooking/etc. I guess you've got to expect it from a geeky audience, and ed knows I'm prone enough to distraction, but looking over the audience from time to time, so many of them were looking at a screen at any given time rather than the speakers that they may as well have had the speakers in a separate YouTube window. It somewhat reminds me of being in various art museums where you see people walking from one painting to the next looking at them each through a viewfinder.
I was tweeting as much as I could. Mainly because my friends threatened me with death if I didn't. And I did miss a couple of slides and some soundbites, for which I was sorry. Sometimes, it had to be said, my attention was slipping and I used the tweets as a way to refocus. All in all, it was fun. But it made me feel removed at times, the way blogging something does. I'd do it again, though.

[Wowbagger]

I felt pretty cheated to be honest. His appearance was splashed on the website and he wasn't even there. Bad, I thought. Bad.:mad:Rule #1 for Attending Distant Conventions: Never Go For Just One Person. (or even two)

My level of "disappointment" was reduced by the fact that his name had disclaimers in the promotional material. So, we always knew there was a chance he wouldn't be there.

However, my hopes were high when I Tracy was saying, some weeks earlierm that "he would know by now" if he wasn't going to make it, and at that time there was no indication he did; But, I guess that changed.

But, there was still enough at TAM to make it worth the outing for me, anyway.

[exarch]

A late stay at the hotel bar on Saturday night kind of made Sunday a bit hazy. I walked in during Chow's musical compilage, but when I claimed my seat and went for coffee, they had already stopped serving it :(
The only other bits of the talks I missed were those where I was nodding off from pure exhaustion.

The after party was also a good idea, although we apparently showed up just after they'd stopped serving food. A trip to the Italian restaurant next door for something to eat meant that by the time I got back, everyone was already leaving.
With an outrageously expensive hotel bar and Pubs in England closing at midnight (and the subway as well btw), I think this is just an inevitable buzzkill for any kind of socializing at TAML.

The venue was okay (although the room was rather cold), but with the same drawbacks as last year's theatre: only one staircase to get from the conference hall up to the dining area meant major congestion and queing. And once you got your food, you couldn't sit down anywhere. And what was up with all those coloured twinkling LEDs on the ceiling?

All in all, I enjoyed the conference itself immensely. Especially the Saturday morning line-up was awesome. PZ was awesome (which you'd know isn't a given if you saw him at TAM6). And many of the speakers and panels, despite not being specifically about skepticism, were very interesting perhaps because they broadened the spectrum.

I'll be going back next year.

[Wowbagger]

And what was up with all those coloured twinkling LEDs on the ceiling?It's there for the convenience of those who wish to do their own astrology reading, without the bother of actually stepping outside.

[Geek Goddess]

Am I the only one who thought the Amateur Transplants were rather mediocre?

Yes


I had a great time. I had never heard of Alan Moore, but thoroughly enjoyed listening to him and have become a fan.

Tracy and her crew did a great job. Rebecca put together some great questions in her panel discussions. I had not heard DJ's speech before, so it was fresh. All in all, I enjoyed it greatly.

I went out for Chinese with friends near Leicester very late one night. We discover when we left the restaurant at one a.m. that the Tube was closed, and the taxis were off duty. I was left taking a Friday night bus to Victoria Station and walking alone back to my hotel, something I don't care to repeat.

I also got to meet up with Hindmost and his wife, and Irena, and two of my friends. We went out to the pub, and then to a late night dinner as well. I went to see the caverns at Chiselhurst one day, and went to see Les Miz at the theater one night. I also walked from the Hilton to Reagent Street, then to Oxford Circus, then around the Museum of London, all in one day. My joints were tired :)

[zooterkin]

Yes
I also walked from the Hilton to Reagent Street, then to Oxford Circus
Should that be Oxide Circus? ;)

[ohp]

I also walked from the Hilton to Reagent Street, then to Oxford Circus, then around the Museum of London, all in one day. My joints were tired :)

Sometimes it is better to walk rather than take the tube, where the station doesn't have good escalators.

Covalent Garden for example.

Blame Zooterkin. He started it.

[brodski]

Covalent Garden for example.

Blame Zooterkin. He started it.

Monoxide Crescent?

[Geek Goddess]

I also went to Cadmium Town

[Wowbagger]

YesBummer.

I went out for Chinese with friends near Leicester very late one night. We discover when we left the restaurant at one a.m. that the Tube was closed, and the taxis were off duty.Living near New York City, I do find it weird how London shuts down at night.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Loth as I normally am to not eat food that I've paid for, I went out to lunch on the Sunday, in order not to spend all my time queuing (to get out of the room, on the stairs, to get into the food room, to get the food, to get dessert and coffee, then to get back in the room again) and to get something I knew I'd enjoy eating, sitting down.

I also went out for lunch on Sunday

[yngve]

I had a blast, no doubt, however, there are some minor irks.
- Wiseman has to come up with some new stuff for next year, he managed to pull it off, but there was too much repetition from last year.

- Punishment for idiots that can't put their cell in flightmode or silent should be mandatory.

- More time for questions

- Workshops on how to promote skepticism (that may be an idea for next year....?)

The workshop bit might be arranged as a fringe event, maybe as a prelude to a Skeptics in the Pub with subsequent mingling and exchange of ideas after presentation(s) of the various ideas that have cropped up.

Also I have to give my thumbs up for the Westminster Skeptics in the Pub on monday 18th, interresting and complex topic that makes you think.

Ghost Stories was just brilliant, absolutely recommended!

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Ghost Stories was just brilliant, absolutely recommended!

I went last Thur, the 21. I concur.

[xinit]

Am I the only one who thought the Amateur Transplants were rather mediocre?

I enjoyed the little I saw from them... enough to buy an album on emusic when I returned home.

Highlight of TAM London for me? Not catching the plague that was going around. I spent hours at CORE talking to a couple really cool people, although they were obvious plague carriers, and remained healthy.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I enjoyed the little I saw from them... enough to buy an album on emusic when I returned home.

Highlight of TAM London for me? Not catching the plague that was going around. I spent hours at CORE talking to a couple really cool people, although they were obvious plague carriers, and remained healthy.

I'm glad I only stayed there 2 minutes. Who picked that place?

[zooterkin]

I'm glad I only stayed there 2 minutes. Who picked that place?

James Thomas (http://www.hampshireskeptics.org/?p=1108) of Hampshire Skeptics, if you really want to know. ;)

[xinit]

I'm glad I only stayed there 2 minutes. Who picked that place?

Well, the offer of free food really did the bulk of the work on that front. Food was good enough to go back and pay for it the next night.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

James Thomas (http://www.hampshireskeptics.org/?p=1108) of Hampshire Skeptics, if you really want to know. ;)

We mostly left because we were stuck on the end of the table with Stinky***.

I heard later that we didn't miss much.


***There were several "Stinky's" at TAM. I believe this one was labeled Stinky 8 Ball.

[Geek Goddess]

I'm glad I only stayed there 2 minutes. Who picked that place?

we walked in, saw full tables but no one we knew, so ended up going elsewhere

[Hindmost]

Yes


I had a great time. I had never heard of Alan Moore, but thoroughly enjoyed listening to him and have become a fan.

Tracy and her crew did a great job. Rebecca put together some great questions in her panel discussions. I had not heard DJ's speech before, so it was fresh. All in all, I enjoyed it greatly.

I went out for Chinese with friends near Leicester very late one night. We discover when we left the restaurant at one a.m. that the Tube was closed, and the taxis were off duty. I was left taking a Friday night bus to Victoria Station and walking alone back to my hotel, something I don't care to repeat.

I also got to meet up with Hindmost and his wife, and Irena, and two of my friends. We went out to the pub, and then to a late night dinner as well. I went to see the caverns at Chiselhurst one day, and went to see Les Miz at the theater one night. I also walked from the Hilton to Reagent Street, then to Oxford Circus, then around the Museum of London, all in one day. My joints were tired :)

We had a perfect evening...won't forget it.

And we went to the wine bar and we actually braved the traffic so I could see my castle.

19915



glenn

[Geek Goddess]

We had a perfect evening...won't forget it.




glenn

That was fun, wasn't it!

[SusanB-M1]

Well, I have to agree with Professor Yaffle! However, travelling to Australia for two weeks - got back 7:30 this morning - compensates.:)
Carole and I will be there next year though.
I hope there's a video (or DVD or something) of the occasion?

[zooterkin]

This week, the Guardian's Science Weekly (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/series/science) included a report on TAM London (http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/audio/2010/oct/25/science-weekly-podcast-maggie-philbin-james-randi-tomorrows-world), including interviews with Randi and PZ Myers.

[Porterboy]

I really enjoyed it.:) Thanks to all the organizers.

Susan Blackmore was the most interesting speaker. I love the music and comedy acts. Amateur Tranplants were good. I've got all the docs at my hospital watching them now.:D

Being a big feller I hardly fitted into the seats and the first morning was a bit draining, without a break.:eek:

[Wowbagger]

Well, I got a replacement program guide (or "commemerative brochure", as the Brits seem to call it), in the mail from a fellow Forum member who had an extra.

So, now I need a replacement for "worst thing that happened all weekend". Any ideas for that?

[The Central Scrutinizer]

So, now I need a replacement for "worst thing that happened all weekend". Any ideas for that?

You showed up.

[DocM]

So, now I need a replacement for "worst thing that happened all weekend". Any ideas for that?

Some guy insisted that his Android smartphone was in any way comparable to my lovely, huggable iPhone... oh, wait, that was you...