shhh…it’s supposed to be a secwet

As you may know, Rebecca Watson has been getting a lot of rather nasty flak tossed her way — the kind of over-the-top hatred I thought we were reserving for…oh, wait, no one. A couple of people are organizing a little surprise (which is why they asked me to post this on an obscure blog which Rebecca never bothers to read) affirmation for her. If you want to join in the recognition, write to oniongirl for suggestions. Quietly. Don’t let any Skepchicks know.

Anything is fine. A quick positive note; a postcard; she probably wouldn’t turn down a chest of pirate treasure. It’s the thought that counts.

It’s not really going to be a surprise, is it? Unless somebody does deliver the pirate treasure.

I thought that was the natural state of all philosophers?

John Wilkins is an unemployed philosopher right now, so he’s looking for donations to tide him over. Give him a little assistance if you can, especially since he’s threatening to have a god take him to heaven if we don’t cough up. Let’s not give a damned agnostic an excuse to wobble over the correct answer on that one.

Don’t leave any comments over there, though! He fears and hates the Horde, ’cause he ain’t got one.

(Also on Sb)

I thought that was the natural state of all philosophers?

John Wilkins is an unemployed philosopher right now, so he’s looking for donations to tide him over. Give him a little assistance if you can, especially since he’s threatening to have a god take him to heaven if we don’t cough up. Let’s not give a damned agnostic an excuse to wobble over the correct answer on that one.

Don’t leave any comments over there, though! He fears and hates the Horde, ’cause he ain’t got one.

(Also on FtB)

Pluggin’

Tomorrow, I’ll be on radio station KPFK in Los Angeles around 10am, on The Michael Slate Show. We’re going to be talking about various things, but one thing in particular: we’ll be plugging The Magic of Reality. Slate had a very good one-on-one interview with Dawkins earlier this week, and I think we all agree — getting more copies of that book into people’s heads would be an excellent idea.

While I’m recommending books, I also just finished Sean Faircloth’s Attack of the Theocrats! How the Religious Right Harms Us All-—and What We Can Do About It. It’s about how the religious right is corrupting the United States, with a nice collection of concrete examples of the idiocy these bozos — who keep getting elected! — represent. If you’re reading this blog, you know what I’m talking about, and it’s a safe bet you’d appreciate this book.

So get readin’. You can listen to the radio while you’re working your way through the books.

You missed it!

Too late! My talk is all over.

There is one writeup already, there were people in the audience with cameras so something will appear on youtube soon, and the convention had professional videographers present, so maybe you’ll see it sometime soon. Or you could invite me out to whereever you are to give it again.

(Also on Sb)

You missed it!

Too late! My talk is all over.

i-da0560c451bf2106c2c4255daa3320cc-mutants.jpeg

There is one writeup already, there were people in the audience with cameras so something will appear on youtube soon, and the convention had professional videographers present, so maybe you’ll see it sometime soon. Or you could invite me out to whereever you are to give it again.

(Also on FtB)

I’m in Texas!

Hold me, mommy, I’m scared. It’s Texas, and you know what this place is like: full of Bushites and fundies and creationists and people who talk funny. Fortunately, the first thing I saw when I walked into the hotel was a swarm of natives, including Matt Dillahunty and Aron-Ra, so I was reassured — there are some good people here. And then I learned from my host that convention attendees have almost entirely bought out all the rooms here in the Hyatt, so the place is packed with My People, a little island of concentrated sanity in the great sea of Texas. Actually, I’m getting the impression that a lot of Texans are more than a little exasperated with the loonies who have soiled their reputation.

Anyway, I’m the first speaker here at the Texas Freethought Convention, so I need to get ready. I’ve been told that most of the attendees will be registering this morning (I haven’t, I got in late), and the lines may be long. I’ve been told I have permission to crash to the front of the lines and get my registration stuff, but I’m afraid if I do that, I’ll look like a great big arrogant dick.

Oh, wait…they think that even when I’m polite. Stand aside, peons!

You talkin’ to me?

No. No you are not, and I’m not talkin’ to you, either, ’cause we aim to push the magic button on the electronic submission form and get this grant out of my life and the lives of my long-suffering collaborators in the grants office this afternoon, and everything else is hanging in the ether until that is done.

If you really want to bother me, go here:

Look at that lineup: you might not want to talk to me because you’re too busy talkin’ to everyone else. That’s OK, though, because this time I’m bringing my wife with me to keep me out of trouble.

But until then, I’ll just go quietly insane all by myself over here.

I am so out of touch

Seriously, half the time I don’t know where I am. I got a call last night from this madman, Scooter of KPFT, asking if I’d be available to do a radio show in Houston on Thursday, and I said, “Thursday? I’m not going to be in Texas this week, am I?” and he says, “Yes, you are” and I go “Huh? Whuh? I thought that was later this month!” But yes, he’s right, a hard-partying wildman of a radio DJ knows better where I’m going than I do.

This week, it’s time for the Texas Freethought Convention!

I’ll be there, I promise. I had my plane reservations and everything. Well, everything except my talk, which isn’t done, but last night after Scooter’s phone call, when I went to bed, my brain did nothing but dream about “Mutants!“, which is the title, and I laid out the entire thing in my sleep. I just have to slap it down in Keynote now, and I’ll be ready. Easy peasy. I think I have three minutes free in my schedule Tuesday night.

I just looked at the schedule, and woo-hoo, I’m the first talk on the opening day of the conference! I hope people are ready for a science-heavy talk to start the day. I also notice that Richard Dawkins has the last slot of the weekend — so it’s going to be like a great big science sandwich.

(Also on Sb)