…and this is a 
It's strange…I was offline all day yesterday. I've been at Skepticon II down here in Springfield, Missouri, and unfortunately, I had no internet access while I was in the meeting, which went on all day Saturday late into the evening, and then, once the talks were over, the socializing began. The party went on at a bar until 1:30am, then moved to a hotel room until sometime around 4am, and then DJ Grothe, Rebecca Watson, and I kept it going until 6am, at which time the lesser two beings conked out, and I was the last one left standing (Rebecca will seethe at that)…when I had to take off to the airport for my flight home. And that's where I am now.
I expect to be home by early afternoon, and back online full time again. Maybe I'll take a nap, too.
There will be a Skepticon III next year, and you should plan on going! Good speakers and a very enthusiastic crowd makes it an excellent event. The late night parties are a bit much for an old geezer like myself, but they're fun, too.
Comments
Posted by: SEF | November 22, 2009 7:49 AM
Nap-time is good for "old geezer"s. It may even be possible to nap on the aeroplane.
Posted by: claire-chan
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November 22, 2009 8:01 AM
If only I were to live closer to Missouri.
Philly seems to be the next-best, though???
Posted by: The Tim Channel
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November 22, 2009 8:42 AM
They're apparently skeptical of wifi access.
Enjoy.
Posted by: Jack | November 22, 2009 8:47 AM
"They're apparently skeptical of wifi access."
Death to the infidels!
Posted by: blf | November 22, 2009 8:54 AM
I have it on good authority (i.e., I just made it up) that the reason only Pee Zed was still standing was that someone nailed his tentacles, clawed feet, amd forked tail to the floor. He simply couldn't fall over! As to why he'd been nailed to the floor, I understand it's because the others did want him to hurt himself, him being an olde geezer.
Posted by: Buzz Buzz | November 22, 2009 9:02 AM
Ah, I see. You went drinking with Rebecca Watson. That'd make anyone drop off the face of the earth for 24 hours. I was starting to get a bit confused, but now I understand perfectly.
Posted by: G. Tingey | November 22, 2009 9:05 AM
OFF-TOPIC, but ....
Vox Day, quote: " But the real problem is not that PZ is a coward, it is that he is a liar."
I think you may need to address this problem
Posted by: Matt Penfold | November 22, 2009 9:14 AM
It is nothing that some lavatory paper will not fix.
Posted by: TimmyD | November 22, 2009 9:19 AM
Holy shit. I'm 25 and I would've been in bed by 10:30. That's impressive.
Posted by: Buzz Buzz | November 22, 2009 9:22 AM
Oh, honestly, who gives a shit what the hell Vox Day is saying? Guy is an idiot naziesque imbecile. Let him blow hot air in obscurity. Fewer people who get directed to his page the better.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM
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November 22, 2009 9:35 AM
See, I told you folks that PZ hadn't run away to join the circus.
He'll be doing that after his nap.
Posted by: blf | November 22, 2009 10:00 AM
He'll be doing that after his nap.
Well, this blog is rather like a three-ring circus, with all these
clownscommentators andmonsterssquid andtrollstrolls.Posted by: E.V. | November 22, 2009 10:30 AM
So all you skeptics out there. See if your baloney detector goes off on the NPR weeper (and comments) for http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120580047
The real story begins when you find out that the grieving parents have a website: Beyondreason.info
- selling books and spiritualist propaganda to grieving parents.
Posted by: Noni Mausa | November 22, 2009 10:32 AM
Bloggers can haz ironclad livurr?
Posted by: scooter | November 22, 2009 10:41 AM
COOOOL, perhaps I will go next year. I'm usually only in Springfield MO for funerals, my Mom's side of the family festered up from Springfield.
I could hang out with atheists by night , and spend the days with demented fundy relatives for some serious not-drinking.
Posted by: scooter | November 22, 2009 10:45 AM
Tingey @ 7
Oh NOESS!!!1!11 A Cowardly Lyin' !!!1!!!
Lyins and Tigers and Bares
OH MY!!!!11!!
Posted by: Knockgoats | November 22, 2009 10:51 AM
So, PZ,
You were taking excellent care of your heart, according to the latest research - but have you consulted your liver?
Posted by: Jack Rawlinson | November 22, 2009 10:55 AM
Sounds like the PZ party animal I remember from the AAI convention... :-)
Posted by: scooter | November 22, 2009 11:07 AM
E.V.@ 13
It's laugh out loud schmaltzy, but the bullshit alarm definitely went off. Daddy says little Brian collapsed in the dugout.
Remember this is a nine year old playing little league and they have a dugout?? I played little league and base ball through high school and have been at many college fields and I have never seen or much less, been in a dugout.
Then as the story ends, daddy says the field, the one with the dugout, was crappy and run down so they rebuilt it, and named it after Brian.
Wholy Shit, I wonder what these kids do when they're not playing little league, race Formula One cars?
No wonder they die all over the place.
Posted by: Wallace Turner | November 22, 2009 11:13 AM
We are not your parents.
You don't have to explain yourself to us.
Posted by: Sven DiMilo | November 22, 2009 11:34 AM
Thanks, scooter, for that vivid imagery.
Posted by: fly44d
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November 22, 2009 11:37 AM
Good job old man! It does the ego good to outlast the youngsters every now and then!
Posted by: PZ Myers
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November 22, 2009 11:39 AM
I can have some sympathy for your garden variety creationist. They're wrong, and they're often stupid, but they believe what they believe out of a misplaced application of social and personal values that we may hold in common.
Vox Day, though, is simply loathsome and insane. He's not a problem, he's a negligible cockroach. His pleas for attention should be ignored.
Posted by: Shelley | November 22, 2009 11:42 AM
I love the comments you've been getting, PZ. Especially about the one about being skeptical of wifi access. It's amusing because as I sit here in bed at the same hotel, only two doors down from the room you and I were in with the party...typing here on my computer on the internet with the wifi access cable (provided by the hotel) sitting only 5 feet away. If this connection were to go down, I have no less than 5 other choices to connect to, 3 of them in easy wifi pick up distance. LOL!
I think it's a matter of PZ not having any time to get away the Entire Time. Poor guy was surrounded by questions even back into the hotel room. For my first time at a skeptical event at ALL, this shindig was fun, definitely, and everyone should come next year!
Posted by: PZ Myers
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November 22, 2009 12:05 PM
Yeah, web access at the hotel was just fine. All I did at the hotel was get a few desperately needed hours of sleep before wading into the talks!
Posted by: Aaron Baker | November 22, 2009 12:18 PM
Off-topic, but here's a nice comment on morality without belief in God, from conservative unbeliever Heather MacDonald: http://secularright.org/wordpress/?p=3313
Posted by: nemryn | November 22, 2009 12:22 PM
I know we've mentioned Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal here before, so here's the latest (relevant) one: http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1695#comic
Posted by: leepicton
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November 22, 2009 12:37 PM
Ahem. PZ, from the vantage point of one who has achieved full geezerdom, I cannot grant you the privilege of referring to yourself as a geezer. You are just a tired middle-ager. When you reach 55, you are permitted to call yourself an apprentice geezer; full status is achieved when you have reached full (not early) Social Security status. Those are the rules - I know because I made them up myself.
Posted by: Bright Incite | November 22, 2009 12:56 PM
Man that sounds like you had a good time. I want in next time! What exactly do skeptics do in a hotel room until 6AM?
Posted by: PZ Myers
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November 22, 2009 1:13 PM
Talk. Talk talk talk. Talk talk. Listen. Talk talk talk talk talk.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM
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November 22, 2009 1:16 PM
It warms the cockles of my agéd heart to know there is still innocence in the world.
Posted by: chrisD | November 22, 2009 1:22 PM
Scooter: It may surprise you to learn that "dugout" isn't only a thing people can enter into it's also an area.
As far as the renovations after the boy died I'm sure it wasn't that much money to do. I recently contracted a renovation here for a park with 4 junior sized fields and 2 standard league fields. Depending on what kind of donations they received the work can be done for around 50-100,000 for some decent sod work and fence setting, hardly F-1 funds.
Your follow up comment about kids dying all over the place due to a supposed negligence on the parent's part is unnecessarily harsh. You may not agree with what they infer by their recollection of coincidences but that doesn't mean these are bad parents.
Posted by: caseywollberg | November 22, 2009 1:30 PM
I live in St. Louis, but found out about Skepticon too late to go. I'm sorry I missed it and my chance to meet you, PZ, and to hang out with my old friend, D.J. Grothe. I'll definitely be there next year!
Posted by: Michelle R | November 22, 2009 1:41 PM
Man, PZ'S a party beast!
Posted by: Clint | November 22, 2009 1:41 PM
I was standing next to a very tired-looking PZ at 5am this morning when I finally exited the party, but I have to say I gained a new level of respect for your fortitude and patience.
I discovered that I'm not the only person in the word that loves to hear their own voice.
Posted by: Patty
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November 22, 2009 1:43 PM
I was there! Unfortunately, I was the one hacking and coughing thoughout the entire day...by the time R. Carrier spoke, I was good for about 75%...coming and going as to not disturb everyone....and was SO EXCITED to finally learn more about you...and was just unable to stay and hear your talk....not a happy camper.
BUT with luck, you can attend next year's SkepticonIII!!
What I'm learning of you is refreshing and exciting!!!
Delighted that you got to party the night away too!! Springfield is a groooovy town for that sort of thing.....
~Patty
Posted by: scooter | November 22, 2009 1:49 PM
whoa somebody's snark meter needs adjusting
Posted by: stptrck75 | November 22, 2009 1:59 PM
Sounds like a memorable experience. One of these days I gotta make it to one of these events.
Too bad there isn't more widespread advertising for these types of conferences (AAI, Skepticon, etc...), outside of the microcosm of non-believers in the world.
Posted by: Moggie
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November 22, 2009 2:35 PM
#30:
Even Rebecca Watson? The talk/listen ratio sounds like a guy thing.
Posted by: Rebecca Watson | November 22, 2009 2:43 PM
@39
"Even Rebecca Watson? The talk/listen ratio sounds like a guy thing."
Oh god, especially Rebecca Watson. The more I drink, the more I talk, and I always wake up the next morning groaning about what a nonstop talkative ass I am! I have to keep reminding myself to stfu. It's a disorder of some sort I'm sure. Logorrhea.
Posted by: Rebecca Watson | November 22, 2009 2:48 PM
Oh, and PZ: it was a pleasure.
But FYI, I stayed up later and I have various Tweetings to prove it!
Posted by: AdamK | November 22, 2009 2:52 PM
72 virgins are unneccessary to lure me to paradise, if I can get Rebecca Watson with logorrhea instead.
Posted by: SEF | November 22, 2009 2:56 PM
Could you not have had a ghost tweeter? I'm not convinced Columbo would let you get away with that as an unbreakable alibi.
Posted by: Chris Mruzik | November 22, 2009 3:20 PM
Did anyone find a knitted brain slug? I kinda lost mine.
Posted by: Casey Jackson | November 22, 2009 3:20 PM
I was there with my mother for your talk last night, I sadly couldn't stay to hear Rebecca Watson(had to go get my brother from the babysitter,) I was the kid with the bad haircut next to the big blonde lady right in the middle of the crowd.
We both enjoyed it very much and both plan to come next year, although we'll stay the entire length next time. I wanted to thank you(and the rest of the speakers and crew) for bringing such an event to this area.
Thank you, and I'll see you next year.
Posted by: scooter | November 22, 2009 3:25 PM
For any of yall not familiar with the southeastern OK/Western MO part of the country under discussion here, the best portrait is a song by the great James McMurtry.
If you ARE familiar with that area, this is your anthem, I know every landmark and sneaky little ethnic reference in this tune by heart.
It doesn't start getting to the point until about the fourth verse, and this is especially close to my heart because my second cousin got my cherry in MO, and we had us a time.
http://acksisofevil.org/audio/Choctaw_Bingo.mp3
Strap them kids in,
Give 'em a little bit of vodka in a
cherry coke, We're going to
Oklahoma to the family reunion for the first time in years.
It's up at uncle Slayton's cause he's
getting on in years, You know he
no longer travels but he's
still pretty spry. He's not much on talking,
he's just too mean to die.
And they'll be comin' down from Kansas
and from west Arkansas. It'll be one
great big old party like you
never saw
Uncle Slayton's got his
Texan pride.
Back in the thickets with his
Asian bride. He's got an
Airstream trailer and a
Holstein cow.
He still makes whiskey 'cause he
still knows how.
He plays that Choctaw bingo every
Friday night.
You know he had to leave Texas but he
won't say why. He owns a
quarter section up by Lake Eufala, caught a
great big ol' blue cat on a
driftin' jug line. Sells his
hardwood timber to the chipping mill. Cooks that crystal meth because the shine don't sell.
He cooks that crystal meth because the shine don't sell. You know he likes his money he don't mind the smell.
My cousin Roscoe, Slayton's oldest boy from his second marriage up in Illinois. Raised in
East St. Louis by his
momma's people. Where they
do things different.Thought he'd
just come on down. He was going to
Dallas Texas in a semi truck called from that
big McDonalds, you know the one that's built up on that great big ol' bridge
Across the Will Rogers Turnpike.
Took the Big Cabin exit stopped and bought a cartons of cigarettes
At that Indian Smoke Shop with the
big neon smoke rings
In the Cherokee Nation hit Muskogee late that night, somebody ran a stoplight at the
Shawnee Bypass, Roscoe tried to miss 'em but he didn't quite.
Bob and Mae come up from some little town
way down by lake Texoma where he coaches football.
They were two A champions now for two years running. But he says they won't be this year no they won't be this year.
And he stopped off in Tushka at that
"Pop's Knife and Gun" place, bought a
SKS rifle and a couple a full cases of that
steel core ammo, with the Beardam primers from some East Bloc nation that no longer needs 'em.
And a Desert Eagle that's one
great big ol' pistol, I mean
.50 caliber made by badass Hebrews, and some
surplus tracers for that old BAR of Slayton's
Soon as it gets dark we're gonna
have us a time. We're gonna
have us a time.
Ruth Ann and Lynn come down from
Baxter Springs, that's one
hell raisin' town way up in
Southeastern Kansas, got a
biker bar next to the lingerie store
that's got them Rolling Stones lips up there in bright pink neon, and they're right downtown where everyone can see 'em, and they
burn all night you know they
burn all night you know they
burn all night.
Ruth Ann and Lynn they wear them
cut off britches and those skinny little halters, and they're
second cousins to me.
Man I don't care I want to
get between 'em with a
great big ol' hard on like a
old bois d' arc fence post you could
hang a pipe rail gait from, do some
sister twisters 'til the cows come home
And we'd be havin' us a time.
Uncle Slayton's got his
Texan pride
Back in the thickets with his
Asian bride,
He's cut that corner pasture into
acre lots, he sells 'em owner financed,
strictly to them that's got no
kind of credit 'Cause he knows they're slackers
When they miss that payment, then he takes it back
He plays that Choctaw Bingo every
Friday night, drinks that Johnny Walker at that Club 69.
We're gonna strap them kids in give 'em a little bit o' Benadryl, and a cherry coke we're goin' to Oklahoma Gonna have us a time
we're gonna
have us a time
Posted by: Clint | November 22, 2009 3:25 PM
@40
"Oh god, especially Rebecca Watson. The more I drink, the more I talk..."
You weren't too bad, Rebecca. Our offline radio host was a bit dominant, but then he is a professional.
I would post the first thing I said to my roommate this morning in the hotel upon waking, but this is probably a bit too public. Will save it for another skeptic party.
Posted by: TFP | November 22, 2009 3:31 PM
While you were away:
http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/17102
Oops!
Posted by: Blind Squirrel | November 22, 2009 3:57 PM
Thanks for that one, Scooter.
BS
Posted by: daveau | November 22, 2009 4:00 PM
I'm the same age as PZ, and I can't remember the last time I was up all night. Probably because I haven't had a good reason to. 20 years ago maybe.
Posted by: scooter | November 22, 2009 4:05 PM
I'm the same age as PZ and I'm still trying to forget being up all night for 30 years.
Posted by: Pygmy Loris | November 22, 2009 4:35 PM
I wish I'd been there!
Posted by: scooter | November 22, 2009 4:37 PM
BS
you're welcome, McMurtry is a Texas treasure
Posted by: not a gator | November 22, 2009 4:46 PM
DJ Grothe, MC Myers and R3bekka live in concert? Can't believe I missed it!
Posted by: masksoferis.wordpress.com
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November 22, 2009 4:47 PM
Ah; generations later stories will still be told of the Day When There Were No Posts, and the children will not believe it. ("What? Our squid overlord postless for a day? Such things cannot be!" --- they're children that've read Lovecraft.)
I myself am already writing a tear-streaked memoir about it. 30 000 initial printing, 5-city author tour.
Posted by: WowbaggerOM
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November 22, 2009 4:52 PM
Hmm, looks like I'll have to get in some drinking/staying up late practice before the AGC in Melbourne next year...
Posted by: 'Tis Himself, OM
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November 22, 2009 5:02 PM
I'm older than PZ and the last time I was awake all night was in June of last year at the party after the awards presentation for the Newport to Bermuda sailboat race. We raced for over four days, spent a day recovering, and then partied until the next morning.
If I race in the 2010 race, I'll be doing the same thing again. I've already got an invitation to be a watch captain on a 65 footer.
Posted by: bugarup
|
November 22, 2009 5:38 PM
Good to see you enjoyed yourself. My fiancée and I were already getting worried about crazy fundies with guns ...
Posted by: T. Bruce McNeely | November 22, 2009 5:38 PM
Double digits - does that sound like a term that an 8 year old would use?
Not to me.
Posted by: SEF | November 22, 2009 6:18 PM
It's a perfectly reasonable thing for a UK child to say (at least in my experience of such things). It's the big deal before being a teenager becomes the next big deal.
Posted by: Allison | November 22, 2009 6:39 PM
As the big blonde lady, aforementioned in Casey's post, I'd like to add that I'm sorry I couldn't have seen more. Next year, for sure, I'd like to get a room and stay up there for the duration. As a transplanted Jersey girl, it's nice to be around people, once again, that aren't trying to convert me to something or other and see the world as it is. Science rocks. Good work, guys, and thank you.
Posted by: FUG | November 22, 2009 7:09 PM
Thanks for showing up! I had a great deal of fun.
Posted by: Buzz Buzz | November 22, 2009 7:13 PM
Wow, a chiropractic spambot.
(chirophil75 phil)
I'm afraid that spambot is way the hell away from its target market.
Posted by: sakodak | November 22, 2009 8:16 PM
The best part was when PZ started the striptease:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sakodak/4125860691/
Posted by: Kevin | November 22, 2009 10:08 PM
Hey PZ, did the wireless on campus stop working after we got it setup for you?
Posted by: darvolution proponentsist | November 22, 2009 11:30 PM
Unless it's a troll or another moron with an agenda trying to use Pharyngula as his personal army for comments or counter hits.
PZ, shit spill in Isle #64
I'd gladly handle the "light work" but I don't have the mop.
Posted by: darvolution proponentsist | November 22, 2009 11:38 PM
Looks like the cleanup occurred before I clicked submit. Apologies to the new owner of isle #64. I hope the smell is gone too.
Posted by: tsig0
|
November 23, 2009 6:27 AM
Hi
I got a $30 parking ticket from MSU but it was worth it. I also got a Chik Tract on my car.
Posted by: Stephen | November 23, 2009 9:42 AM
Skepticon II was a good enough event. However, I'd like to see more punches thrown by the anti-theist side. It took PZ to break away from being PC and I'm grateful for his much needed intertainment. Skepticon II was made even better by the opportunity to not only meet the speakers but to hang out after hours with them as well. It was good to meet you all. See you next year.
Posted by: Amber Culbertson-Faegre | November 23, 2009 11:45 AM
PZ,
Next year, come find me and I will find you some sort of internet access on the campus. If we can't get your laptop rigged up, we will get something going.
I am going to work on getting guest access for the speakers, but regardless we will figure it out. =)
-Amber
Posted by: John c Mruzik | November 23, 2009 8:40 PM
PZ you didn't play pool with a guy named "Shifty" did you?