I’m excited to say our speaker time slots for “Atlanta Skepticamp 2010: Critical Thinking For Everyone” are currently all filled! I’m looking forward to hearing a wide range of talks this year!

I also realize there are people  really looking forward to giving a talk this year, who did not register in time to get a speaker time slot.  I’ve heard from people who would love to contribute a presentation to Skepticamp, but are really not into the idea of giving a talk in front of on an audience. To accommodate more participation, we’re announcing a Skepticamp “Poster Session” which will take place Saturday May 15th 10am-12pm (Day 1 of Skepticamp)! We’ll also begin May 16th, day 2 of Skepticamp, earlier at 10 am and we’ve got something special planned that we’ll be announcing soon! If you’ve been on the fence about attending Skepticamp, you REALLY don’t want to miss this!

We’re asking people to contribute their most creative submissions for Skepticamp, not just poster presentations! For more suggestions, please visit our page on Other Ways to Participate at Skepticamp. Personally, I’m hoping to see at least ONE skeptical diorama!

If you’re having trouble thinking of a topic for your contribution to Skepticamp, I encourage you to address, in your own way, the idea of “Critical Thinking For Everyone.” We’re taking the opportunity of Skepticamp this year to champion this idea, and invite our participants to explore the topic. I discussed  the upcoming Skepticamp and “Critical Thinking For Everyone” with Atlanta’s own Derek and Swoopy on a recent episode of Skepticality. I encourage everyone to check it out, and I’m looking forward to seeing/hearing great things from my fellow skeptics in a few weeks at Skepticamp!

Note: Don’t forget to register for Skepticamp, if you haven’t done so already!

Join the Help-A-Thon!

Skepticamp is all about collaborating, and as an organizer, I am ALL about some delegating. It’s been easy not to worry about that so far. People have been coming to us with help, finding us a venue, designing our t-shirts, giving us $5 to be able to listen to Brian Thompson AND see him at the same time.

I created a google group to use for communication while we all plan and organize Skepticamp together. I haven’t sent a single message.  But, I want us to actually use it to talk about ideas, and give everyone a chance for their idea to be a part of Skepticamp. I personally have not been doing a good job of motivating, or even including others to be a part of planning Skepticamp.

The truth is, right now we need some help. Skepticamp is still 5 weeks away, and everyday we’re going to need more help, and more help, and so on. Not only do we need help, but people want to help and want to be a part of planning and running Skepticamp because THAT’S THE WHOLE POINT OF SKEPTICAMP!

So, Atlanta Skepticamp 2010 Help-A-Thon starts now! If you’re ready to help, if you want to be a part of Skepticamp, join our group and start talking about it!

Join Atlanta Skepticamp Help-A-Thon

Email:

Visit this group

Atlanta’s 2nd Skepticamp is coming up May 15th-16th! Registration for the event is now open! Register for Skepticamp.

We’re calling this year’s conference “Atlanta Skepticamp 2010: Critical Thinking For Everyone.” Find out more.

We have enough details confirmed to finally officially announce…

Atlanta Skepticamp 2010: Critical Thinking for Everyone

WHEN

Saturday, May15th, 12pm-6pm
Sunday, May 16th, 12pm-6pm

***Skeptibrunch, snacks and beverage will be provided for participants both days

WHERE

Lakeside Commons
990 Hammond Drive NE #400
Atlanta, GA 30328

With the help of our friend Derek of Skepticality, we have use of a great, roomy conference space both days!

***We’ll announce details as far as where to park, and directions to the building and the conference space as we get closer to the date

» Continue reading “Announcing Atlanta Skepticamp 2010 & SkeptiBOOTcamp!”

And, on that day, or a day very much like it (hopefully), the skeptics will emerge from the pub. They will stand around for a few minutes until their eyes adjust, then they will venture out into the park to do that other activity skeptics love, grilling.

Yes, I’m talking about the second ever Skeptics in the Park.

More after the break:

» Continue reading “One day it will be sunny and warm again.”

We’ll be having a Skepticamp Volunteer and Planning Meeting this Sunday, February 28th at 4pm at Thinking Man Tavern. For more details and to RSVP, please visit the event page!

At the meeting we’ll work on confirming an event date and location, brainstorm additional fund raising and event promotion avenues and hear some some ideas from our amazing and brilliant volunteers! We’ll also be there for those curious about participating in Atlanta Skepticamp to answer questions, assist with topic selections and offer help however we can!

I personally can’t wait to get another Skepticamp off the ground, and I’m excited to see new and familiar faces alike at the meeting on Sunday!

See you there!

I’m very excited to announce that in March, we are hosting a Live Amateur Scientist podcast. Brian Thompson has graciously agreed to come to Atlanta to help us raise money for the Atlanta Skepticamp this summer!

We’re crazy excited about this. Brian is one of my favorite podcasters and the last time he did a live podcast in Atlanta, it turned into one of the best parties I’ve been to in years.

I hope that if you’re in or near Atlanta, you’ll join us. Brian will be interviewing Atlanta’s own Blake Smith (co-host of the Monster Talk podcast), and Lindsay Starke (writer and conspiracy expert). We are also expecting some exciting visitors who are coming into town for the event. Nothing is confirmed yet but there may be sightings of loud astronomers and flora-dwelling crustaceans… you never know

Plus, PRIZES. And not shitty Kevin Trudeau books like we had last year (although I think I still have a couple that may show up…) I’m talking really cool prizes, donated by the Atlanta Skeptics, Surly Amy, Tree Lobsters and others. » Continue reading “The Amateur Scientist Invasion”

We’re preparing for Atlanta’s 2nd SkeptiCamp planned for early this May. This week we’re getting things started with a unique opportunity to help The James Randi Educational Foundation, as well raise awareness about Atlanta SkeptiCamp.

For donations made to the JREF through this link this week, I will make a matching donation to Atlanta Skeptics up to $150 for the upcoming Atlanta SkeptiCamp event.

We’ll be announcing this at Skeptics in the Pub tonight in anticipation of next month’s March Skeptics in the Pub — Live Podcast with the Amateur Scientist. This is going to be a great fund-raising event for Atlanta SkeptiCamp, and tickets are just $5!!

Let’s have great kick off to this SkeptiCamp season by raising money for the wonderful JREF! Remember, for this week donations made to the JREF through this link,  I will make a personal matching donation up to $150 towards Atlanta SkeptiCamp 2010!

We’re looking forward to having another great Atlanta SkeptiCamp this year, and helping out our friends JREF as well!

Conspiracy theories have long been an area of focus for skeptics.  The Illuminati, the JFK Assassination and more recently the events of 9-11 have all spawned their own.  A couple of things are happening next week to bring conspiracy theories back to the forefront here in Atlanta.

First, Atlantan Ben Ruder is promoting a sort of “conspiracy night” at the Plaza Theatre on Ponce on Tuesday, December 1st at 8 PM. The main event is a screening of John Carpenter’s cult conspiracy theory classic They Live starring none other than “Rowdy” Roddy Piper of wrestling fame. The evening will also feature a display of conspiracy-themed art in the lobby. The event is being promoted via a website that links to many conspiracy theory believer videos on YouTube. It will be interesting to see if the night is populated more with conspiracy believers or wrestling fans. (Perhaps there’s some overlap there?)

Second and more prominently, Atlanta’s own Turner Broadcasting is launching a new program dedicated to the topic, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, which premieres Wednesday, December 2 at 10 PM on truTV (formerly Court TV). Read more about the new show after the fold… » Continue reading “Apparently it is “conspiracy theory week” next week”

On a cold and rainy October 17th, the Atlanta Skeptics ventured out of the pub and into the great outdoors. Well, as great and outdoors as you can get in the middle of a major metropolitan area.

Overall, we had a good turnout for the first outing (approx 20), especially considering the weather. People brought kids, we grilled (eventually), and had some of Maria’s “fruit punch.” Fun was had by all. The event took place at a small picnic pavillion in Grant Park on the southeast side of Atlanta. The sun never came out and the wind was blowing making it a very chilly day, and there were periods of drizzle mixed with light rain here and there.

More after the break.

» Continue reading “Skeptics in the Park – Post Mortem”