First, I hope that those of our readers who are citizens of the USA will be celebrating the birth of our nation today, and that our friends will share our joy. It is and always has been our attempt to bring equality of opportunity, freedom, justice, and compassion to Americans, and in my opinion others would do well to emulate what we have begun -- a task which is always somewhat short of perfection while we strive to meet our goal. We hope that we have earned your understanding...
At my age, a guy has to do a lot of maneuvering to keep afloat and get synched with the rest of the world... As I write this, only a week and a half remains before I'll arrive "on scene" in the monster known as Las Vegas, where I suspect that half of those I see on the street are cyborgs, and the pyramids and palaces were dropped there from a parallel universe, one that's run from a vast clockwork machine buried deep below the desert. The place scares me...
But as with all deserts, there is an oasis, a green spot, and next week that will be the Southpoint Hotel & Casino, where The Amaz!ng Meeting Las Vegas 2011 will be held, a celebration of rationality, science, common sense and -- dare I say it? -- fun? I'm literally in awe that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Richard Dawkins, Penn & Teller, Carol Tavris, Bill Nye -- the Science Guy, George Hrab, Richard Saunders, Eugenie Scott, PZ Meyers, Michael Shermer, Phil Plait, Richard Wiseman, Harriet Hall, Banachek, and Sadie Crabtree, to name only a few, will travel here from whatever venue they've been informing, charming, entertaining or just keeping engrossed, to spend a few days with the JREF crowd. Our untiring president D.J. Grothe will be buzzing about this assemblage of stars... I'm appropriately flattered by all this, too, I assure you. And our sterling volunteer staff, headed up by the tireless Scott Romanowski, will be in attendance to inform and assist, as always.
You can read elsewhere the myriad of great features that TAM9 has for you. If you're a first-timer, this will be a big surprise to you; if you've been here before, you'll find new features, angles, and opportunities to learn and benefit from your attendance. And I hope you'll notice that we bring in people from all over the globe, both genders, an assortment of ethnic origins, and -- happily! -- young folks, all of whom will carry away great memories of shoulder-rubbing with exciting folks who are willing to be button-holed and chatted with on subjects about which you've wondered. Our accessibility is well-known, and it even extends to little old guys with white beards who can often be coerced into a dazzling card trick or two... Yes, I'm very button-holable, and I'll feel slighted if you pass up meeting me in person and sharing your experiences with me...
I have to regret that registration is now closed, though if you missed it, I'm told you can go on a waiting list (www.amazingmeeting.com). We're at over 1,500 attendees now, including those who are coming on grants, and it's rumored that next year we may have to build our own casino/hotel to hold the crowd... Just kidding!
Enjoy. Make noise. Make yourself heard. Above all, walk away from this ninth The Amaz!ng Meeting in Las Vegas with great satisfaction and knowing more than when you arrived -- that's what it's all about, folks!
Sincerely, James Randi