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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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« Vegas, baby! | Main | A smattering of news from the wicked world of religion »
Category: Personal
Posted on: June 19, 2008 5:18 PM, by PZ Myers
I'm at this amazing meeting meeting these amazing people right now. I'm going to have an amazing lunch and then I'm going to an amazing reception. Say hello if you see me — I've already put my autograph on one octopus.
YES! Send me a free issue of Seed.
If I like what I see, I'll receive 5 more issues (6 in all) for just $14.95. That's 50% off the cover price! If I'm not completely satisfied, I'll simply write "cancel" on the invoice and owe nothing. The free issue is mine to keep.
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Comments
What a truly Amazing post. I wish I could have made it out this year but everything has piled up at my place of employment such that taking a vacation now would result in my execution by coworkers on my return.
Maybe next year I'll get to have an Amazing time.
Posted by: HumanisticJones | June 19, 2008 5:22 PM
How the hell are you going to get any sleep, let alone eat being among the best of our kind! Good grief, there is enough brain power, our kind of brain power, at that meeting to shift our position in our Milky Way Galaxy! And please PZ, you and all those other superior minds, get a lot of digs at that scourge of reason, religion!
Posted by: Holbach | June 19, 2008 5:29 PM
And if you can't be amazing, just be randi.
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/2kxyc7
Posted by: Glen Davidson | June 19, 2008 5:31 PM
Don't you mean Amaz!ng?
Posted by: Elyse | June 19, 2008 5:40 PM
Poor 'pus. Now how is it gonna blend in with its environment?
Posted by: Sili | June 19, 2008 5:42 PM
I'm pretty sure "I autographed an octopus in Vegas" must be code for something. Something pretty unsavory.
Posted by: Greg Peterson | June 19, 2008 6:02 PM
Have a great time, PZ! See if Randi will teach you how to pull an octopus out of a hat or palm a squid.
Posted by: Ragutis | June 19, 2008 6:03 PM
What happens in Vegas....
Posted by: Brownian, OM | June 19, 2008 6:14 PM
Has Adam Savage blown anything up yet? I'd watch him closely.
Posted by: Dave in Austin | June 19, 2008 6:22 PM
I hope you handle everything with Amazing Grace.
(Ducks to avoid thrown objects.)
(Raises head to see if coast is clear.)
Posted by: Janine ID | June 19, 2008 6:31 PM
Time to roll 7/11. Watch out for the water sprinklers and cleavage. Clark County seems to be fascinated with them.
Posted by: danley | June 19, 2008 6:59 PM
Damn, I wish I was amazing.
Brian(to crowd):You are all special!!
Man in crowd:I'm not!
Posted by: BicycleRepairMan | June 19, 2008 7:01 PM
@ Sili #5
It's OK, I'm sure PZ's autograph pens all use octopus ink.
Sorry, couldn't resist.
Posted by: Paul Lundgren | June 19, 2008 7:26 PM
Randi and the gang should debunk the Vegas CSI crime lab while in town.
Posted by: scooter | June 19, 2008 7:57 PM
I've been at both workshops today, and haven't yet seen P.Z. He should be fairly obvious, with the tentacles and all. I've seen James Randi, and ran into Art Benjamin (who is doing a "show" tonight on Mathemagic). So far, it's been outstanding, and the main part of the conference hasn't even started yet. Reception with "mixing" is tonight.
So, if Neil DeGrasse Tyson is the "Sexiest Astrophysicist Alive", what dead astrophysicist beat him out?
David
Posted by: David Brown | June 19, 2008 8:22 PM
Waves of contrasting color are coursing across my skin in a most fascinating way. I interpret the display as signifying jealousy.
Of course, a couple pictures with The Amazing are expected.
Posted by: Crudely Wrott | June 19, 2008 8:26 PM
Dammit, I've always wanted to go to TAM. And guess what, I passed through Vegas 2 days ago on business! Maybe next year I'll be able to book the time off.
Posted by: Bad Albert | June 19, 2008 8:36 PM
Dave in Austin @ #9
I'd imagine that all of the Mythbusters are on the Do Not Fly List by now...
Posted by: pcarini | June 19, 2008 8:41 PM
Psht...you act as if you "just" missed it. I'm getting married in Vegas...in 2 weeks. It would've been nice if JREF could've postponed it till then, but apparently they're not THAT Amazing.
Posted by: Entgegen | June 19, 2008 8:45 PM
I'm pretty sure "I autographed an octopus in Vegas" must be code for something. Something pretty unsavory.
Well, you know what we say here: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
(Now it's "Your Vegas is showing," and I can't decide if that's lame.....or sort of titillating.)
Posted by: Erin | June 19, 2008 9:13 PM
I'm pretty sure "I autographed an octopus in Vegas" must be code for something. Something pretty unsavory.
Well, you know what we say here: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.
(Now it's "Your Vegas is showing," and I can't decide if that's lame.....or sort of titillating.)
Posted by: Erin | June 19, 2008 9:14 PM
Don't say "amazing people"!!11!!! You can't just post, "amazing people."!!!!!11 You have to Name Names!!!!!!
The people demand Names!! Amazing Names!!!!!!111111!!
Posted by: AdamK | June 19, 2008 9:37 PM
Amazing
Posted by: Dennis | June 19, 2008 10:16 PM
@Scooter (#14):
Unlikely, given that the Mythbusters actually appeared in cameo in an episode recently, and are seen giving the thumbs-up to George Eads in the lab after one of his experiments blows up.
Posted by: Kimpatsu | June 19, 2008 10:38 PM
I envy the people who have a sufficiently flexible personal schedule and enough disposable income to attend a TAM. Ditto for "TED", and doubleplusditto X-Day, even if it always seems to be just a drill.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-Day_(Church_of_the_SubGenius)
TAM and X-Day converge nicely on a bunch of different levels. They should get their chocolate into each other's peanut butter, and vice-versa.
Posted by: Disciple of "Bob" | June 19, 2008 11:04 PM
Heh, I just live here.
Yes, people other than casino workers actually live in Vegas.
Posted by: ShortWoman | June 19, 2008 11:24 PM
Ice on Mars!!!!!
HT: Stranger Fruit
Posted by: James F | June 19, 2008 11:27 PM
I'm with Glen, if you can't be amazing - just be randi...
otherwise -
Atta boy PZ!
Posted by: Patricia | June 20, 2008 1:08 AM
I wish I was there... My daughter and I wanted to go this year as newbies and suck in the amazing aura and thoughts. Too many other plans, but next year! Hey Lena! You reading this? Make it a plan for next year! Clear the calendar!
Have Fun!
Posted by: Tom | June 20, 2008 1:29 AM
Waves of contrasting color are coursing across my skin in a most fascinating way. I interpret the display as signifying jealousy.
Ah, The Color of Distance...
Posted by: BMS | June 20, 2008 1:29 AM
You should swing by San Diego -- the sea hares are mating!
Posted by: donna | June 20, 2008 2:30 AM
Since you seemed to forget the Friday cephalopod picture, I give you this gem from copyranter via Pandagon. It's a French AIDS prevention ad
Posted by: natural cynic | June 20, 2008 3:16 AM
and then I realized that I was getting a little ahead of myself
Posted by: natural cynic | June 20, 2008 3:20 AM
and then I realized that your pal Phil Plait might appreciate the other picture a little more
Posted by: natural cynic | June 20, 2008 3:24 AM
whoa 'natural cynic'! warn us that they're NSW!
Posted by: djlactin | June 20, 2008 6:04 AM
I find it amazing the octopus held still.
Posted by: Samantha Vimes | June 20, 2008 6:45 AM
Sorry, I can't let that misquote stand - it kinda ruins the genius of the scene
BRIAN:
Look. You've got it all wrong.
You don't need to follow me. You don't need to follow anybody! You've got to think for yourselves. You're all individuals!
FOLLOWERS:
Yes, we're all individuals!
BRIAN:
You're all different!
FOLLOWERS:
Yes, we are all different!
DENNIS:
I'm not.
Posted by: Kristjan Wager | June 20, 2008 6:58 AM
James F @ # 27 Nice to see another member commenting on current astronomy, especially the news transmitted by the Phoenix Lander from MARS! Crap, we should have been walking around and exploring on Mars years ago if we weren't so engaged in all the crap happening across our planet and tolerating dissension from religious retards. I hope to see us transmitting documentaries from Mars, especially a helicopter view over Olympus Mons and Valles Marineris! Man, the thought of it makes me salivate! Brought to you by indomitable and wondrous Science!
Posted by: Holbach | June 20, 2008 8:48 AM
In honour of Friday Cephalopod blogging, I tender a crafty link
Posted by: Mez | June 20, 2008 8:52 AM
Much as I'd love to see PZ, Phil, Randi, Adam, Neil, et. al. there is NO way I'd ever go to Vegas without half a dozen sheets of high quality blotter.
Haven't seen that for years.
Posted by: Tom Pain | June 20, 2008 10:28 AM
I'd just have loved to see Adam in the flesh. I freely admit to finding gingernuts dead sexy. He could autograph my octopus anyday.
Posted by: Bride of Shrek | June 20, 2008 5:57 PM
A couple weeks ago, you were in Northern California. So was I.
Now, you're in Nevada, and so am I (Elko, returning from Yellowstone).
Coincidence? Yeah, pretty much.
I sure as double-hockey-sticks would love to share some of these Yellowstone photos, though. My first time there. I'll try to get some up on Flickr and post the link when I can.
BTW, I've always wanted to attend TAM. But, I gotta say, Yellowstone vs. Vegas... I think I may finally have won.
Maybe I should set up a poll for us to crash.
Posted by: MikeM | June 21, 2008 2:24 AM
@ #29
Ha ha, "aura"... did you do that on purpose?
Anyway, yes! I will clear the calander! Next year for sure!
You went through all that trouble to prod my inner scientist into being (showing me blogs like this helped a lot) so might as well enjoy it with some like-minded people.
Posted by: Lena | June 21, 2008 2:48 AM
But was it an amazing octopus?
That reminds me. Whatever happened to Cuttlefish?
Posted by: Flamethorn | June 21, 2008 4:30 AM
Aura:
A field of energy that surrounds living creatures.
www.trulyhaunted.com/definitions.htm
a sensation recognized by a patient that precedes or signals the beginning of a seizure. May include uneasiness, deja vu, sensory illusions (odors, visual illusions or misconceptions, sounds), stomach discomfort, dizziness.
www.epilepsyfoundation.org/about/glossary.cfm
Both. I think many at TAM are experiencing the second one right now. Experiencing the energy of the people there is also what I would like for us to experience! :-)
Posted by: Tom | June 21, 2008 2:11 PM