James Randi Educational Foundation

What Now?

Details: Written by Michael Blanford; Category: Swift; Published: 15 July 2010; Created: 15 July 2010; Hits: 7150

Amy at Skepchick.org posted a story yesterday titled “What You’re Doing Is Important”. It was a nice little reminder that we do actually win sometimes even it doesn’t seem like it. I thought I would follow her lead and remind us why all of this matters. You may find this post corny, naive, and reeking of personal bias and you are probably right. It just seems like skepticism can use a little cheer-leading every now and then and what better time than on the heels of TAM.

For those of us who attended The Amazing Meeting 8, some time is likely being spent reflecting on the previous week. I know that I have been doing that. For some, this reflection will lead to the “what now?” question. We no longer have the lectures, the workshops, The Del Mar Lounge, the late-night conversations, the parties, our celebrities, or the friends we either met or were reunited with there. We spend time and money to be part of TAM so that we can learn, network, be entertained, and socialize with people who see skepticism as something worthwhile and meaningful. Of course its easy to feel that skepticism is meaningful when we are all there patting each other on the back.

Magic and Skepticism Panel from TAM7

Details: Written by Michael Blanford; Category: Amazing Meeting; Published: 14 July 2010; Created: 14 July 2010; Hits: 9484

Magic & Skepticism Panel - TAM7 from JREF on Vimeo.

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Preschool Skepticism

Details: Written by Michael Blanford; Category: Swift; Published: 05 July 2010; Created: 05 July 2010; Hits: 9926

I have had the opportunity to teach science and give critical thinking programs to kids of just about every age. I faced one of my greatest challenges last week when I did my first program in a series of three for my son’s preschool. I did two short classes for the groups of three and four year-olds on colors and optical illusions. It was a blast and the kids seemed engaged. We mixed colors with food dye, we separated colors with paper chromatography, and the kids showed up their teacher with the color/word confusion chart (a sure thing with kids who know their colors but can’t read). In the end, I asked the little ones if they had fun, they enthusiastically cheered “YES!”. I then asked them what they learned. A girl shouted “colors are made of science” - another cheer rose up.

TAM8, FULL SPEED AHEAD!

Details: Written by Jamy Ian Swiss; Category: Swift; Published: 05 July 2010; Created: 05 July 2010; Hits: 12762

It was Friday, January 31^st, 2003, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, when I stepped out on stage to welcome a room of about 250 people to the opening evening program of the very first The Amaz!ng Meeting. It was a thrilling moment, but even this professional mind-reader could neither have foreseen nor foretold that seven years later we would be close to selling out our eighth TAM gathering, with close to 1200 attendees.

Having appeared at all but one of The Amaz!ng Meetings between then and now, I’ve had the unique vantage of watching from the stage and seeing our tremendous growth. I’ve performed on stage, presented workshops, moderated panels, and more, and I’ve had unforgettable experiences pile atop one another in my memory – and yet perhaps the most amazing aspect of this amazing meeting is that I know without doubt that something equally remarkable and memorable is going to occur in Las Vegas just a few days from now. The Amaz!ng Meeting never fails to exceed my expectations – and that is truly amazing!

You Can Still Come to TAM 8!

Details: Written by Jeff Wagg; Category: Latest JREF News; Published: 30 June 2010; Created: 30 June 2010; Hits: 7351

Randi's Got a Posse!

And they want you to come to The Amaz!ng Meeting 8. Though online registration is now closed, you can still regsiter on site for the biggest, baddest, and most exciting skeptics conference ever. Just added: Gary Stockdale and the Peepshow Trio will be entertaining us on Thursday evening. Also, Adam Savage will be bringing three very special items that you'll have a chance to take home with you, and Jerry Andrus's illusions will once again grace the halls of TAM.

This is the year for TAM. Don't miss out. Be sure to register at the door at the South Point Hotel and Casino on July 8, 2010. We'll be waiting.

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