Speaker/Guest wish list for the next Amazing Meeting

[dimossi]

Speaker/Guest wish list for the next Amazing Meeting -

I had a great time at the Amazing Meeting. I enjoyed most all the speakers, especially Phil Plait and Michael Shermer. I am looking forward to next year's AM and I thought it might be cool to start a wish list of potential speakers and/or mystery guests we would like to see. I had started jotting down most of these names on Saturday when Michael, AtheistArchon, and I were brainstorming and trying to come up with a list of names we thought could be the secret guest. Of course, none of our guesses were correct. So much for having any psychic abilities or even good intuition. ;-)

Anyway here are the names. Please add your own or comment on the ones I have included here.


Johnny Carson - Who better than a big name like Johnny Carson, who has been a huge contributor and supporter of Randi for years. But would he do it?

Penn Jillette - After seeing the new P&T show (http://www.showtimeonline.com/ptbs/) on Showtime I think we would be incredibly lucky and entertained if we could get Penn and/or Teller there.

Teller - See above.

Julia Sweeney - She is a former SNL comedian who went from having a strict religious belief to secular skepticism.

Paul Kurtz - Founder and chairman of CSICOP (http://www.csicop.org/), the Council for Secular Humanism (http://www.secularhumanism.org/default.htm), and Prometheus Books (http://www.PrometheusBooks.com/). One of the giants of the Skeptic world along with Randi and Shermer, but would he do it? Is there still too much competition and friction between JREF/Sketic Society and CSICOP? I would hope not.

George Carlin - I don't know how skeptical George (http://www.georgecarlin.com/) is, but he certainly attacks religion quite a bit and he is funny.

Richard Dawkins - This leading evolutionary biologist (http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_dawkins/index.shtml) would be a delight to have at the Amazing Meeting.

Ted Rall - A hard-hitting editorial cartoonist like Ted (http://www.rall.com/) would be interesting variation.

Stephen Pinker - Author of books like "The Blank Slate" and "How the Mind Works". Pinker (http://www.mit.edu/~pinker/) is a great speaker and expert in the cognitive science field. In my opinion, I find cognitive science and evolutionary psychology some of the most intriguing and interesting subjects and would love to hear the latest from a man of Pinker's stature.

Stephen Hawking - Author (http://www.hawking.org.uk/home/hindex.html) of "A Brief History of Time" as well as many others. Probably wishful thinking on my part to think he would speak at AM 2004, but I had to include him on the list.

Adam Corrola - Co-Host of the Man Show and Loveline. I know he is an Atheist and a funny guy. Does that qualify him for the AM? Hell if I know, but I would hang out with the guy, he is a riot.

Edward O. Wilson - A world-famous biologist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, named by Time magazine as one of America's 25 most influential people. Another scientist (http://www.bkstore.com/harvard/fac/wilson.html) that I would love to meet and hear speak.

Daniel C. Dennett - Distinguished Arts and Sciences Professor, Professor of Philosophy, and Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. D. Dennett (http://www.tufts.edu/~ddennett/) has written several books, one being "Darwin's Dangerous Idea". I am reading it now and it is fantastic.

Jodie Foster - I don't know what she would talk about, but I wouldn't mind just looking at her. ;-)

Bill Nye - I really thought this was my best guess as to who the guest speaker would be. Oh well, maybe next time.

Salman Rushdie - Anyone (http://www.trill-home.com/rushdie.html) who has had a fatwa against them is OK in my book. :-)

Phil Donahue - I like his dedication and activism, but he can be annoying.

Reginald "Infidel Guy" Finley - Hey, some of you were saying there should be more ethnic diversity at the Amazing Meeting. You want a black skeptic? Infidel Guy is your man. Reginald (http://www.infidelguy.com/) is creator and webmaster of "Black Atheists" (http://www.infidelguy.com/black1.html) a site dedicated to dispelling the myth that there are NO black atheists and establishing a method for black atheists to contact each other. Reginald also has a great story to tell concerning his experiences as a Psychic while working for The Psychic Network. Plus he is a friend of mine. :-)


Well those are my suggestions for now. What are yours?

[UnrepentantSinner]

Infidel Guy worked as a psychic???

No poopoo???? Wow!

Great list, my addition would be a paper presenter, a friend of mine from Yahoo Clubs days. Dr. Kevin Ausman (http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~cben/ExecDir.shtml) is a nanotechnologist who might be able to come up with a very interesting presentation. I'll need to try and get him to sign up for next year.

[sadluxation]

Sue Blackmore Was a believer and researched NDE's. Has now changed her mind.

Richard Wiseman magician and all round token skeptic in the U.K., has done battle with many and sets up fake seances, just to beat people around the head with a stick in the dark. :D

Vic Tandy. Has a thing about ghosts, apparitions and vibrating eyeballs.

Jon Ronson Stalked woo woos around the globe, then wrote a book about "Them", and their conspiracy theories.

Charles Paxton Cryptozoologist, but doesn't believe in Nessie. Only proper stuff, like coelacanths.

Adam Hart-Davis A British Bill Nye in a shell-suite. Need I say more?

[Charlie in Dayton]

Somebody from Hahvahd Yahd connected with the IgNobel Prizes, like AIR editor (http://www.improbable.com) Marc Abrahams would be nice...

[Quinn]

Four words: Bidlack as Eleanor Roosevelt.

But seriously...

Banachek, aka Steve Shaw -- one of the young spoonbenders in the Alpha Project. A great performer, and one of the few full-time mentalists who actively supports skepticism. I've heard that he wants to be there next year.

or...

Ian Rowland -- a British mentalist who, despite receiving much flack from his colleagues, has participated in several televised psychic exposés including the Edward-like cold reading demonstration on Primetime.

I'd definitely like to hear from another real-life skeptical convert or two, along the lines of Dan Garvin. If he could be talked into it, I'd love to see the forum's own RC tell his story. (You hear that, RC?)

And I second the votes for Richard Dawkins and P&T.

Quinn

[Dinonychus]

Originally posted by dimossi
Johnny Carson - Who better than a big name like Johnny Carson, who has been a huge contributor and supporter of Randi for years. But would he do it?

I don't know of anyone else who'd be a better MC than Bidlack.

Penn Jillette - After seeing the new P&T show on Showtime I think we would be incredibly lucky and entertained if we could get Penn and/or Teller there.

Teller - See above.

They would make great secret guests. IMO, of course.

George Carlin - I don't know how skeptical George is, but he certainly attacks religion quite a bit and he is funny.

Only if Bidlack don't MC next year. And I think he will. He'd be nice to meet anyway.

Stephen Hawking - Author of "A Brief History of Time" as well as many others. Probably wishful thinking on my part to think he would speak at AM 2004, but I had to include him on the list.

I know we have got to have him speak or make an appearance before he dies.

Adam Corrola - Co-Host of the Man Show and Loveline. I know he is an Atheist and a funny guy. Does that qualify him for the AM? Hell if I know, but I would hang out with the guy, he is a riot.

I didn't know he was an atheist. Learn something new everyday.

Bill Nye - I really thought this was my best guess as to who the guest speaker would be. Oh well, maybe next time.

I wouldn't mind just meeting him, personally.

[zakur]

Dr. Dean Edell is one of the first physician broadcasters in the nation, is the host of America's second most popular syndicated radio talk show, The Dr. Dean Edell Show, heard in more than 400 radio stations.

Dr. Edell is a diehard skeptic and pulls no punches when he discusses medical quackery and pseudoscience on his radio program. At the First World Skeptics Congress in 1996, CSICOP presented Edell with the Public Education in Science Award.

[darling]

Yer basic problem with people like Carlin and Hawking is $$$. If Penn and Teller did it, it would be as a favor to Randi - I don't think we could cover their usual fees.

Here's my additions:

Derren Brown - I just saw his TV mind control shows, and they're excellent.

Tom Lehrer Now I know he doesn't like to do his songs anymore, but he would be a great speaker on his true love - mathematics and the concept of infinity.

The Trinity Foundation (www.thedoormagazine.com). They are a televangelist watchdog organization and did the "God Stuff" segments on Comedy Centrals "The Daily Show" a few years back. Joe Bob Briggs is involved with them, and he would be a great speaker in his own right.

Along entertainment lines:
Labi Siffre (www.So-Strong.com)
Utah Phillips (www.UtahPhillips.com)
Y'all probably haven't heard of them, so you'll probably have to trust me on that one.

In fact, the more I think on it, Labi Siffre would be perfect for a critical thinking conference.

[RichardR]

Ray Hyman.

[darling]

I almost forgot... how about the numberwatch (http://www.numberwatch.co.uk) guy?

[TLN]

My avatar, Alton Brown. (http://www.altonbrown.com)

Food Network chef, science enthusiast, and self professed skeptic and cynic. Also, a James Randi fan.

[Girl 6]

Originally posted by TLN
My avatar, Alton Brown. (http://www.altonbrown.com)

Food Network chef, science enthusiast, and self professed skeptic and cynic. Also, a James Randi fan.

Yeah, and I asked him about attending TAM. He was interested, but he's a busy guy. So, best we get on it like RIGHT now if we want to grab him for next year.

Also, don't forget. This whole thing was done on a somewhat showstring budget. I'm not sure what typical fees are for lots of these speakers that you guys want to see. But, usually, they are quite expensive.

G6

[Jeff Corey]

As for fees, none are paid to speakers at other conventions I have attended.
People should feel honored to be invited to speak at TAM 2.
I convinced my University to pay most of my expenses on the basis that it was a for real, serious convention dealing with critical thinking, which I try to teach.
Build it and they will come.

[bignickel]

What is this? No one has mentioned Elizabeth Loftus, of "The Myth of Repressed Memory" fame?

She's certainly been on the front lines of one of nastier parascience controversies in America today.

Any person who been physically punched by believers just because of her skepticism has more than earned their stripes in the War of Ideas, as far as I'm concerned.

[Girl 6]

I also asked The Infidel Guy. He seemed interested. But, he was in the middle moving over to California. :D

Since, we know that this will happen next year, I can contact him again about it.

G6

[kittynh]

I think these are all great speakers!

I know I enjoy reading Joe Nickel, his book on photography is really good for the lay person like myself, and I think he could do an interesting presentation on something like that.

Also, I enjoy reading his books that kind of give the background on something he has investigated. The few "paranormal" incidents that I have "investigated" (aka "looked into") , have been done following the Joe Nickell model. He does have a background as a private eye, but hey, he can also drive a car blindfolded!

[Electric Monk]

Originally posted by bignickel
Any person who been physically punched by believers just because of her skepticism has more than earned their stripes in the War of Ideas, as far as I'm concerned. And for balance, we could then invite Buzz Aldrin (http://www.csicop.org/articles/20021018-aldrin/) :)

[bignickel]

Originally posted by Electric Monk
And for balance, we could then invite Buzz Aldrin (http://www.csicop.org/articles/20021018-aldrin/) :)

And we could give him a "Bart Sibrel" boxing dummy as an incentive! Might be the extra 'oomph' we need to get him to drop by.

[Vorticity]

Douglas Hofstadter
CSICOP fellow, author of "Godel, Escher, Bach", and all-round brilliant guy. I've seen him speak; its great!

[Vorticity]

Originally posted by Girl 6
I also asked The Infidel Guy. He seemed interested. But, he was in the middle moving over to California. :D

We get all the good ones... sooner or later. You'll see.
Come... join us... move west... move toward the light...

[kittynh]

How about Larry Kusche? His definitive book on the Bermuda Triangle has just been republished. His book on Flight 19 is also remarkable. I've never heard him speak, though he is a professor last I heard. It might be nice to have someone that isn't heard from very often.
He also wrote a popcorn cookbook, and I like a well rounded man!

[Brown]

Prof. John Allen Paulos.

----
Reginald "Infidel Guy" Finley - Hey, some of you were saying there should be more ethnic diversity at the Amazing Meeting. You want a black skeptic? Infidel Guy is your man. Reginald (http://www.infidelguy.com/) is creator and webmaster of "Black Atheists" (http://www.infidelguy.com/black1.html) a site dedicated to dispelling the myth that there are NO black atheists and establishing a method for black atheists to contact each other.
----


There are actually people who believe that no black people are atheists? HUH?


But then again...


----
Due to inactivity. The Infidel Guy has decided to shutdown the Black Atheist website. I have not received a email in over a year from interested black freethinkers that would like to be added to the page.
----

[Finella]

Dang!

My hubby beat me to the punch...

Naturally, I love all of his speaker suggestions (and Labi Siffre cannot be beaten for really feiry material -- in a dry-as-the-Sahara delivery). But I am really pushing for the Trinity Foundation, too, in the interest of broadening the audience for TAM and acknowledging that religious people can be skeptics, too. Here's some particular info from the website:

TELEVANGELIST INVESTIGATIONS

An early skepticism about the way religious programming is bought and sold prompted Trinity to conduct a controversial research project on the audience demographics and ratings of religious broadcasting. By the time scandals rocked the religious television industry in the 1980s, Trinity was already monitoring religious programming and reporting abuses of the public trust. In the 1990s Trinity Foundation became the leading "watchdog" of religious media, conducting investigations and providing information used to expose fraud and abuses committed in the name of God.

The foundation regularly provides assistance to print and electronic journalists investigating suspected fraud or other abuses of the public trust by members of the religious media. The foundation maintains a private investigative license with the State of Texas and frequently provides undercover operatives to news programs like PrimeTime Live, 60 Minutes, Dateline, CNN Special Reports, 20/20, British Broadcasting Corporation, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and Inside Edition, among many others. We have also worked with The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Economist, London Independent, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, U.S. News & World Report, and The Dallas Morning News.

Foundation representatives have testified for Congressional hearings examining abuses by America's television evangelists. The foundation has also provided investigative reports to various agencies of state and federal government.

Victim's Helpline: The foundation sponsors and staffs America's only nationwide toll-free help line (1-800-229-VICTIM) for people who believe they or a loved one has been victimized by a televangelist.

Media Archive: Trinity Foundation maintains a nationally recognized video archive of televangelism broadcasts, a print-media clip-file and extensive direct-mail files on approximately 300 televangelists. Information requests are met regularly from local, regional, national and worldwide media outlets.
_____

They have put out some educational videotapes about this investigational work, which can be ordered from the website Buddyh quoted above.
d
---,---'--{@

[Oso]

South Park's Matt & Trey

[CFLarsen]

It would certainly be a hit if we could persuade the aliens to release Elvis for a day or so.... :D

[seraph9k]

Michiu Kaku would be a great guest, I think. He's done a lot to debunk "Bad Physics" (with a nod to Phil) on the former Art Bell show, and is very good at explaining advanced concepts in sub-atomic physics (especially super-string theory) to lay people (and when it comes to super-string theory, I suspect most of us are "lay people.")

[mjolner]

How about Stephen Barrett. He is the best resource that I know when I want to find out about alternative medicine chicanery.

I'm with Quinn on Ian Rowland. And with any luck, he'll bring copies of his cold reading book which never seems to be available on his web site!

Another suggestion I have may seem a little strange, but I'd like to see Morris Dees. A mini bio here. (http://www.splcenter.org/cgi-bin/goframe.pl?refname=/centerinfo/morris.html)

I recommend him because racism is severly lacking in critical thinking and is astronomically more harmful to our society than some stupid spoon bender.

[Jack of Hearts]

A few suggestions:

Dr. Oliver Sacks -- neurologist, author of "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat" and "Awakenings," and recently "Uncle Tungsten," in which he talks about growing up during WWII and finding the growing realm of chemistry and the periodic table to be an alluring alternative to the harsh realities of life during wartime. In my correspondence with him (he lives in NYC now -- we get some of 'em, too! :D ), he's been charming and generous. Maybe we can get him to the A!M!

I concur about Bill Nye. I think he'd rock. Of course, I don't know the man personally.

George Carlin probably wouldn't be interested -- he's very outspoken about how pessimistic he is about humanity's potential. I don't think he would consider the "fight" to be worth the effort. Dommage...

Yeah, Julia Sweeney, that would rock. I asked Shermer about the Skeptic Society's Julia Sweeney video, and he said it's great. I bet she could deliver a great presentation!

Hofstadter rocks... but is he a good presenter?

I think it's important to make sure that the presenters are entertainers as well as educators. Why did everyone like Phil Plait's performance so much? Was it because of the astronomy? No, it was bad astronomy! ;) People liked Phil's performance because of the yuks! Damnit, a sense of humor is what separates the skeptics from the believers!

How about Ann Druyan?

More as it occurs to me...


John

[arcticpenguin]

How about Ralph Nader? Certainly his stance on consumer product safety and advertising would fit into the category of skeptical thinking. And since he's in politics now, he should be eager to put in a free appearance.

[darling]

Michael Fumento (http://www.fumento.com)
I know Diezel will be up for that one.

[Mr. Skinny]

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
How about Ralph Nader? Certainly his stance on consumer product safety and advertising would fit into the category of skeptical thinking. And since he's in politics now, he should be eager to put in a free appearance.
If we could get anyone to speak on a subject regarding safety, I might be able to get my employer to pay for my trip.

*strokes chin* Maybe I should deliver my own paper on a safety related topic next year. I suck at public speaking though.........but maybe if a few skepchicks got on stage with me and held my hand I could do it. At least I have a few months to think about it. :)

BTW, there are several excellent recommendations for speakers in this thread. I'd like to see Ian Rowland myself. He seems like a rather pleasant fellow from what I've observed of him over at the Straight Dope Message Board.

[Girl 6]

Originally posted by Mr. Skinny

If we could get anyone to speak on a subject regarding safety, I might be able to get my employer to pay for my trip.

*strokes chin* Maybe I should deliver my own paper on a safety related topic next year. I suck at public speaking though.........but maybe if a few skepchicks got on stage with me and held my hand I could do it. At least I have a few months to think about it. :)

BTW, there are several excellent recommendations for speakers in this thread. I'd like to see Ian Rowland myself. He seems like a rather pleasant fellow from what I've observed of him over at the Straight Dope Message Board.

Well, I'll be happy to sit there in abject worship on the stage if it would help! :D The best thing would be to do a demonstration or something, right? ;)

G6

[Number Six]

Originally posted by arcticpenguin
How about Ralph Nader? Certainly his stance on consumer product safety and advertising would fit into the category of skeptical thinking. And since he's in politics now, he should be eager to put in a free appearance.

Ralph Nader would be an interesting and controversial choice. But something to consider is that next year at conference time it will be early in the 2004 Presidential race. That may make it harder to get Nader since he'll want to do whatever he thinks will help his campaign. But then again if the JREF could get him it might generate some publicity for the JREF since he'll probably be a Presidential candidate at the time. My guess is that he wouldn't want to do the JREF because it's not directly related to politics.

[ratpfink]

Massimo Pigliucci writes some good columns in "Free Inquiry" and "Skeptical Inquirer" as well as his own monthly column, "Rationally Speaking" (http://fp.bio.utk.edu/skeptic/Rationally_Speaking.htm). I think he'd be a pretty interesting speaker on evolution, humanism, philosophy, the scientific method or whatever he wanted to talk about.

[Philip]

Lawrence M. Krauss (http://www.phys.cwru.edu/~krauss/bio.html) - author of "The Physics of Star Trek" - a physicist who has spoken out against attempts in Ohio to incorporate teaching of "intelligent design" in classrooms and who gave an excellent talk last year here at Vanderbilt about that and other pseudoscience and the general scientific illiteracy of the American public.

[kittynh]

Hey, I get to meet Nader and everyone else running for free and almost against my will sometimes. I once almost ran over Tom Harkin, he ended up splayed across the hood of my car....
NH is fun

[Electric Monk]

Originally posted by kittynh
I once almost ran over Tom Harkin, he ended up splayed across the hood of my car....
NH is fun Let's see if I've got this right: you can hardly drive anywhere during election season in NH without running over a politician, and that's what makes driving in NH so popular? ;)

--James

[Charlie in Dayton]

Originally posted by Electric Monk
Let's see if I've got this right: you can hardly drive anywhere during election season in NH without running over a politician, and that's what makes driving in NH so popular? ;)

--James

Absolutely...there are points multipliers according to party affiliation and position in the polls...:D

[Ted]

John Stossel would be my choice - if we could get him. Anybody see his "Power of belief" program? Wonderful!

Stossel is also the best I've seen when it comes to thinking skeptically about many non scientific subjects such as how both corporations and government programs are at doing what they claim to be doing. While I know that the JREF is focused on matters of pseudoscience, a ton of taxpayer and investor money could be saved each year by looking as hard at economics as Randi does at psychics. For one thing, we probably could have avoided the last recession completely.

[dimossi]

This (http://www.edge.org/q2003/q03_alda.html) letter sent to Dubya from Alan Alda reminded me that Alda would be a great speaker to have at the next Amazing Meeting.

[zakur]

Originally posted by dimossi
This (http://www.edge.org/q2003/q03_alda.html) letter sent to Dubya from Alan Alda reminded me that Alda would be a great speaker to have at the next Amazing Meeting. Thanks for sharing that link. I second the Alda nomination for TAM 2004.

[Dinonychus]

Originally posted by dimossi
This (http://www.edge.org/q2003/q03_alda.html) letter sent to Dubya from Alan Alda reminded me that Alda would be a great speaker to have at the next Amazing Meeting.

Yes!

Whomever doesn't support getting Alan Alda for the next TAM will be tortured beyond belief. ;) How they will be tortured has yet to be determined. The torturing committee is going to meet 6 months after the next TAM to decide on the torture. ;)

[SkepticScott]

Originally posted by Dinonychus (snip)will be tortured beyond belief.(snip)Since most of the people here are "beyond belief" -- they demand evidence -- isn't this sort of an idle threat? :)

[cleo]

Originally posted by Mr. Skinny
BTW, there are several excellent recommendations for speakers in this thread. I'd like to see Ian Rowland myself. He seems like a rather pleasant fellow from what I've observed of him over at the Straight Dope Message Board.


I've met Ian Rowland and can confirm that he is a sincerely lovely guy that you'd all enjoy meeting.

Someone said they couldn't order his Cold Reading book from his website? I'd try again, it worked OK for me.

[Electric Monk]

Originally posted by cleo



I've met Ian Rowland and can confirm that he is a sincerely lovely guy that you'd all enjoy meeting.

Someone said they couldn't order his Cold Reading book from his website? I'd try again, it worked OK for me. For those in the L.A. area who want to meet him, I'd point out that he'll be the speaker at the Skeptics Society (http://www.skeptic.com/) lecture at Caltech on June 22nd.

--James

[TomStockholm]

How about Stephen Fry.

[arcticpenguin]

Originally posted by cleo



I've met Ian Rowland and can confirm that he is a sincerely lovely guy that you'd all enjoy meeting.

Someone said they couldn't order his Cold Reading book from his website? I'd try again, it worked OK for me.
Welcome to the forum, cleo.

[Paul C. Anagnostopoulos]

We must have Phil "The Bad Astronomer" Plait back again.

~~ Paul

[The Bad Astronomer]

Originally posted by Paul C. Anagnostopoulos
We must have Phil "The Bad Astronomer" Plait back again.


Pbbbt. When pigs fly.

Oh. Wait.

Anyway, I have an official invite from The Man hisself. Now I just need to figure out what to talk about!

[Electric Monk]

Originally posted by The Bad Astronomer
I have an official invite from The Man hisselfHal ? You might also need to talk to that nice older gent with the beard.
Now I just need to figure out what to talk about! How about a sequel. You could do an hour on Nancy's excuses, easily.

--James

[Patricio Elicer]

Originally posted by kittynh
I know I enjoy reading Joe Nickel, ...., and I think he could do an interesting presentation on something like that.I agree Kittynh, I had Joe Nickel in mind while scrolling down the thread.

He must have wonderful accounts of his on-site paranormal investigations.

[Diamond]

Most of the ones I would have chosen, have already been mentioned: Alan Alda, P&T, Ian Rowland, Phil Plait, Joe Nickell.

But I'd also like to reinvite Bob Carroll of Skeptics Dictionary fame, because his speech at the first TAM was understated but fascinating.

I would also recommend another "panel of the speakers" which was just fun to watch (and participate in) questions fired from the audience.

I would also ask for more magic interludes, perhaps after every speech or two, to leaven the mix.

My 2c

[dimossi]

An addition to my list of recommended speakers at the next TAM would be:

Hervey Peoples - is a molecular geneticist and avocational anthropologist who has studied the question of human origins for over 25 years. Her unique background qualifies her to write and talk about the complex and controversial subject of human origins – and answer "The Human Question" for a general audience. As a scientist she has studied the genetic effects of radiation, investigated the health effects of pollutants, and conducted clinical trials on new drug treatments for cancer. In the corporate world of high tech she created and managed marketing programs for IBM, AT&T, and other companies in the U.S. and Latin America. She has been a featured speaker for Fortune 500 companies, professional, and civic groups, and has been interviewed on TV and numerous radio talk shows nationwide. More info:
http://www.HumanQuestion.com

I have heard Hervey speak on numerous occations and I feel that she would be a wonderful speaker at the next TAM.

[Lord Kenneth]

Hold a seance and channel up Carl Sagan's ghost, that would be great fun!

[renata]

I see most of the people I have been thinking of have already been mentioned. I would also like to see Joe Nickell, I read a very interesting profile on him.

I have seen Ian Rowland's lecture, and he is a terrific speaker, and I enjoyed it tremendously. I think having him would be very appropriate for the meeting.

[renata]

I see from today's announcement that Ian will speak at TAM2. That will be a great treat :)

Thanks, Randi, Hal and Ian :)

[The Bad Astronomer]

I should have thought of this earlier: creationism debunker Eugenie Scott (http://www.ncseweb.org/ourstaff.asp) (scroll down a bit to find her).

[Electric Monk]

Originally posted by The Bad Astronomer
I should have thought of this earlier: creationism debunker Eugenie Scott (http://www.ncseweb.org/ourstaff.asp) (scroll down a bit to find her). Yes! I'd really like to hear her speak.

Three excellent speakers from the recent "Assault on Reason" conference (two of whom have already been mentioned in this thread):

Elizabeth Loftus (False Memories - now at UC Irvine)
Tom Flynn (Editor of Free Inquiry mag)
Julia Sweeney (God Said Ha!, Letting Go of God)

--James

[Girl 6]

Yes! Eugenie Scott would be great! And, she's local around here to me. So, the trip to Las Vegas wouldn't be a big drain for her.

So... Hal or Linda? Can you ask her? Also, I would like to say that the first time I was trying to get Randi out to California, she was REALLY interested in helping me. So, I'm definitely sure that she would be honored to be considered.

G6

[The Bad Astronomer]

Ah, let me second Julia Sweeney. She's a fascinating, warm person and I would love to hear anything she has to say! She lives in LA, so again airfare won't be too bad.

[Diamond]

Originally posted by The Bad Astronomer
Ah, let me second Julia Sweeney. She's a fascinating, warm person and I would love to hear anything she has to say! She lives in LA, so again airfare won't be too bad.

Let me third that... I'd like to see some of her "God monologues" stuff...

[UnrepentantSinner]

I was listening to Loveline tonight and realized Adam Carola is an atheist and presumably a skeptic. I wonder if we should make him aware of the meeting.

Does anyone know how far Club Paradise is from the Tuscany? Proximity might be the deciding factor for him.

[hal bidlack]

As I think you may have seen by now, Ms Sweeney is now attending and speaking at TAM2. I had a delightful conversation with her, and was most impressed.

[Brown]

For TAM3, it would be nice to see Hal and Clay Jenkinson (http://www.th-jefferson.org/) "debate." I'm not sure whether the subject matter would have a scientific or skeptical theme, but it would be fascinating to see.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally posted by Brown
For TAM3, it would be nice to see Hal and Clay Jenkinson (http://www.th-jefferson.org/) "debate." I'm not sure whether the subject matter would have a scientific or skeptical theme, but it would be fascinating to see.

Or better yet, find an Aaron Burr impersonator and they can re-enact the duel!

[SkepticScott]

Originally posted by hal bidlack
As I think you may have seen by now, Ms Sweeney is now attending and speaking at TAM2. I had a delightful conversation with her, and was most impressed. I heard her speak at the FFRF convention in 2003. She was witty, entertaining, and told a good story about how she deconverted herself from religion.

[hal bidlack]

(deleted)

[MoeFaux]

Originally posted by UnrepentantSinner
I was listening to Loveline tonight and realized Adam Carola is an atheist and presumably a skeptic. I wonder if we should make him aware of the meeting.

Does anyone know how far Club Paradise is from the Tuscany? Proximity might be the deciding factor for him.

Club Paradise is around the corner a ways.
Go down Flaming, make a left on Paradise, and CP is on the corner of Paradise and Harmon.
Uh..I'm guessing...

There's also a little club right next door to the Tuscany. I've never been in it, but I prefer small clubs to large ones, so it can't be all that bad.

[citytom]

Johnny Carson & George Carlin top my list but...
I would first send invitations to: John Edward, Van Praagh, and Sylvia. As well as Sai Baba, Benny Hinn, and Uri Geller.

[Linda]

Originally posted by Lord Kenneth
Hold a seance and channel up Carl Sagan's ghost, that would be great fun!

Actually, we have an extra added attraction on Thursday night if you have nothing else planned at 11 PM. Rick Maue will be conducting a session on Theatrical Seances, and if you're interested in learning more about "Haunted Magic", please come by. It's free, and guaranteed to be an interesting night. Some of you may remember Rick from our first conference. He has graciously volunteered to provide this session at TAM 2. Check him out at http://www.deceptionsunlimited.com/news.html

[AtheistArchon]

- Bill Nye! A personal hero of mine, although I don't hear enough from him these days.

www.the-archon.com/BillNye.wav