RSLancastr's Rambling Tam5 Report

[RSLancastr]

I've been asked by a few people to write up my TAM5 experience. I hesitate to do this, because so many wonderful things happened to me that week, this is going to look like I'm bragging.

It was all such a blur of incredible moments that I may well be describing some of them out of order here. But you'll get the general idea...

(This report turned out to be much longer than I had anticipated. Sorry.)

=====================================

I went to TAM5 looking forward to just relaxing and taking it all in. Back at TAM4 (my first TAM), I was so panicked about presenting a paper on Sunday that I couldn't just relax and enjoy. This time I figured - hey, no paper - I can just socialize and learn!

Little did I know...

The story really starts several days prior to TAM5.

Friday, Jan 12

After pulling an all-nighter at work, I come home in the early afternoon. I decide to do a quick check of my email before climbing into bed.

Among my StopSylviaBrowne emails, I find one which tells me that Shawn Hornbeck, the 15-year-old boy which had been found that day after being missing for four years, had a connection to Sylvia Browne.

Shawn's parents had been on the Montel Williams show a few years back, and Browne had told them that Shawn was dead.

I decided, rather than wait until I had the video0 of the episode, to put together a quick-and-dirty article on it using information from some news accounts I found. The article went up that day, and I went to bed.

Over the next few days, the site got some increased traffic, due to people finding the site while searching for information on Shawn Hornbeck.

Tuesday, Jan 16

I arrived at the Riviera Tuesday evening, checked in, and started trying to get a feel for the layout of the hotel (by the time I left the following Monday, I still couldn't find anything in that place). I met Wollery, BrianSI and some others, and ended up enjoying a quiet dinner with Chaos before calling it a night.

Wednesday, Jan 17

I got up early (for me, anyway), around 7:40am. The volunteering didn't start for a few hours, so I decided to wander around and see who I might meet from the forum.

First, I checked my StopSylviaBrowne email at an Internet kiosk by the hotel registration. There were a few more emails than usual, but one caught my attention. In part, it read:

Quote:

"I am a reporter at the New York Daily News and writing a story about Sylvia Browne's predictions regarding the disappearance of Shawn Hornbeck. I have read your website and would like to speak to you about this and the statements she made on the Montel Williams show in 2003."

Nice!!!!

I called the reporter, got her voice mail, and left my cell number, telling her to call me any time, day or night. Having done so, I headed for the coffee shop for breakfast, hoping to run into some forumites. No such luck. I sit and eat breakfast, wondering where everyone else is. (As it turns out, the clock in my hotel room was one hour fast. I was eating breakfast at 7:00).

After breakfast, I get back to wandering around, and who do I find but James Randi, standing alone, examining a poster on a wall. I introduce myself, not sure if he would remember me from last year, and we talk about - what else - Sylvia Browne. I tell him about the NY Daily News contact, and he is pleased.

Jeff Wagg arrives, and the three of us wander to the area where the volunteers will be stuffing packets. I meet some of the other behind-the-scenes folks, then Mr. Randi and I wander off to have breakfast. (I've already eaten, but I'll have seconds if it means visiting with Randi!)

We get to the coffee shop and find Hal and Elaine finishing up their meal. We sit with them, and order. Most of the talk is of Browne (and Kaz), and partway through the meal, my cell phone rings. It is the reporter.

It's loud in the restaurant, so I put the phone to one ear and cover the other with my hand, and do the interview. Some part of the back of my mid is thinking "I'm sitting next to James Randi, and being interviewed by a New York reporter about Sylvia Browne. What universe did I wake up in today?!?!"

Partway through the interview, I glance over, and Hal, Elaine and Mr. Randi are all watching me and nodding at my answers. talk about pressure!

After the interview, I tell Mr. Randi that I would have handed the phone over to him, but it was so loud in there... "No, no." he says. "This is YOUR baby."

Wow.

The rest of the day is spent stuffing packets, going to lunch with the other volunteers at the Peppermill, and watching my email like a hawk. If any more press requests come through, I do not want to miss them. I also do some further reading on the web regarding the Hornbeck, case, in case it comes up.

I don't even remember now what happened that evening...

Thursday, Jan 18

First thing, I hit the Internet kiosk and check my mail. It is 8am or so, and there are already far more emails in my InBox than there usually are in an entire day. I don't have the time (nor, at $0.75 per minute, the money) to respond to them, but it becomes evident that the NY Daily News article had come out:

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/sto...p-412369c.html

One of the emails breaks some more good news:

Quote:

"Thank God for this site. I heard it on the Howard Stern Show this morning."

Stern?!?! Holy crap!!

Somewhere in there - maybe on the forum - I learn that Penn Jillette had also mentioned the site on his show!

Another email holds yet another surprise:

Quote:

"[Name] here from the OReilly Factor at Fox News. Was hoping to cover Sylvia Browne on the show tonight and wanted to talk to you about it.

Is there a number where I could reach you?"

Okay, now I am on overload.

I call the number, and have a conversation something like this:

Quote:

Her: Thanks for calling! We wanted to have you on the show, but didn't know when you would call, so we decided to use James Randi instead.

Me: Good choice!

Her: But I'm going to call Bill. Maybe he will want to use you instead.

Me: No, Mr. Randi's your man. He's the expert.

Her: Well, he's in Las Vegas. Where are you?

Me: I'm in the same building he's in! I'm attending the conference of the James Randi Educational Foundation.

Her: Oh! Well, maybe Bill will want to use you both! Let me call you back in a couple of minutes...

(I keep reading my email, and a few minutes later, she calls back.

Her: Okay, we've pushed the story off until tomorrow night. We'll call you tomorrow to schedule it. Can you tell Jeff Wagg? We can't get hold of him.

I hang up and run off to find Jeff. At the registration desk, I find Linda, who tells me Mr. Randi is going to be on the O'Reilly Factor that night.

I tell her this is no longer the case. Jeff shows up, and we break the news to him. They aren't happy, as they've just juggled Mr. Randi's schedule to fit in the interview around the reception that night, and now, who knows?

Another email that day breaks yet another bit of news:

Quote:

"I just found your site today after hearing a caller to the Dr. Dean Edell show (nationally syndicated) and he had a caller who mentioned something about an experience his girlfriend/wife had with Sylvia Browne and she opted to not seek treatment and eventually died of (liver?) cancer. The Doc recommended your site as a place to post his story. Hopefully you’ll hear from him."

At this point I'm just shaking my head and laughing, it's all just... surreal.

I go up to my room and call my fiancee, telling her all the news. I hang up my cell, and the hotel room phone rings.

I pick it up, expecting it to be the registration desk again, as there had been some confusion about my check-in.

A man starts talking about the Bill O'Reilly interview, and it took a couple of sentences before I realize it was Mr. Randi, calling to fill me in on the latest! I tell him what I had told Jeff. He had been in interviews, so was not aware that the interview had been postponed.

After hanging up, I just fall backwards onto my bed, laughing. James Randi called me to fill me in on something - I'm still in that other universe!

Then I get an email from CNN. Anderson Cooper is doing a segment on the Shaw Hornbeck/Sylvia Browne story, and they want to know if I have video of the Montel show where Browne spoke with Shawn's folks.

I reply, telling them that I do not have it with me, but here's where they can order it. I also give them my cell number, and tell them not to hesitate to call me any time if they need any info which would help them with the story.

I spend the rest of the day meeting and talking to lots of people. The word about the O'Reilly interview is out, and everyone is excited.

At one point in the day, something happened which will stay with me forever. A lot of wonderful things happened that week, but this quiet moment was by far my favorite.

I was walking through the crowd around the registration area, when Mr. Randi sees me and walks over. "Robert, Sylvia Browne is taking some serious hits this week, and it is largely to your credit."

I can't even describe how that made me feel. Mr. Randi has been one of my heroes for more than thirty years.

How many people ever get to even MEET their heroes, let alone hear something like that from him or her?

I don't know if I'm describing it well, But it is a moment I will remember as long as I live.

Later that day, I am talking with a vendor at a booth where you can buy custom-embroidered hats. I am strongly considering buying a hat and having them embroider it with the StopSylviaBrowne logo, when Hal comes up to me and says "Penn is here, and he wants to interview you. Is that okay?"

Sure. Why not! (Holy crap!)

He takes me down the hallway, and I see Penn towering over the others around him. Hal introduces me, and Penn says "Hi. My names Penn. I have a radio show. Wanna be on it?"

"Sure, thanks. When?"

"Now. The equipment is upstairs."

Oh jeez...

I follow Penn and Mike Goudeau (his co-host) to the elevators.

As we wait for the elevator, Penn turns to me and says "So, think you can talk about her for forty minutes?"

"I guess we'll see." There's a pause, and I continue: "Of course, I haven't talked to a lawyer, so I really don't know what I can and cannot say, but I'll wing it."

There is another pause, then Penn replies "Don't say 'c***'."

I laugh. "So, I guess that 'fraudulent c***' is out of the question?"

We enter the elevator.

Goudeau says "Actually, part of my job is to note the time whenever he (Penn) says 'c***, so we can edit it out later. So feel free."

That having been settled, we exit the elevator and walk to a suite (I believe it was Mr. Randi's) where three mics have been set up on a round, glass-top table by the windows overlooking the strip. Two sound engineers are already there, and they man the equipment. The three of us put on the "cans" (this is what world-weary, media-savvy people such as myself call "earphones"), and we're off to the races.

I'll let you wait until the show is broadcast to hear what happened during the interview. Penn said that they were taping a bunch of interviews at TAM, and that they would be broadcasting them over the coming weeks. So I don't know if or when mine will come up. Consult your local listings.

That night, I get to the Reception, and almost immediately someone (sorry, I forget who) tells me about a conversation about Sylvia Browne he overheard down in the lobby. I won't go into details here, but I knew I had to follow up on it right away.

I went back down to the lobby, and spoke with someone. Interesting. An article for the SSB site may result from it. That's all I'll say now.

I go back up to the Reception, only to find out that Mr. Randi had announced the O'Reily thing, and introduced me, but I was nowhere to be found. Damn!

After the reception, I notice I have some voice mail on my cell. It was the CNN producer, wanting to speak with me. I call her back, and she asks if I can tape an interview in the morning.

I tell her I have a face better suited for a radio interview. She laughs, but she assures me that the makeup people can work miracles. I agree to the interview, and she says she will call me at 9am to let me know when and where it will happen.

Friday, Jan 19

I get up early, but decide not to have any breakfast. If the interview makes me nervous, it's better that it not happen on a full stomach.

The producer calls, and asks if 11am is good for the interview. I tell her that's fine, and she gives me directions to where the taping will be held, as well as a phone number to contact the people at the taping location should I need to.

I check my SSB email for the umpteenth time. Ever since the NY Daily News article hit the stands, I'd been getting more than a hundred emails a day, as opposed to the four or five a day I had been getting prior to that.

I don't have time to reply, but I read each one to make sure I don't miss anything important. As usual the vast majority of them are very positive, with a couple being negative. Mixed in with all of this were requests for radio interviews. I respond and agree to them. And I won't need makeup!

I will miss some of the first few speakers of this, the first day of the conference. But I show up to see Hal introduce Mr. Randi, and hear him speak about the changes to the Challenge. After that I'm out the door, out to get my car from the valet, and I drive to the location where the interview will be taped.

It was a sort of generic studio, I assume used by various networks (there was nothing to indicate that it was a CNN affiliate), located in an industrial park behind a restaurant near the strip.

I go inside, and am taken to a room where a camera is pointed at a chair behind a small desk-like thing. Behind the chair is a black backdrop. Large lights are aimed at the chair and surrounding area.

I sit down, and the cameraman hangs a small earpiece over my ear, and asks me to place it in the ear. He then hands me a small mic on a clip and asks me to feed it up through my shirt and out the collar, where he takes it and clips it to my collar. He then takes his place behind the camera, and a producer in New York asks me, via the earpiece, if I can hear her. I respond that I hear her fine.
She tells me that they will tape my answers to a bunch of questions, but that they will probably only use the answers to a couple of them to enhance the segment.

She then tells me to hold on, and they will be right with me. I sit and smile, wondering if the CNN people would give me the same advice that Penn had.

After a few minutes, during which I hear various things going on in New York, she comes back on and explains to me that she will be asking me questions, and I need to focus on a point to my left of the camera rather than looking straight into the camera, and pretend to be answering someone sitting there. I pick a spot, even though it is hard to see - it's black, and I am not wearing my glasses - and we start.

Over the next twenty minutes or so, I'm asked a handful of questions, such as "What motivated you to create the site?" "Why Sylvia Browne?" "Does she really harm people?" and so on. I answer them to the best of my abilities.

At one point in the interview, they received an email from Browne's business manager, and read it to me, asking my response to it.

Afterwards, they thank me, and with a *click*, New York is no longer in my ear.

As I get ready to leave, the cameraman talks to me for a minute about Browne. I get the impression that he is more skeptical of her than he was twenty minutes ago.

Back at the Riviera, I check my email again, and join the conference in progress.

Someone - I think it was Boo, but maybe it was Elaine - tells me that Randi will be live on the same show as my taped interview, and that it has been arranged that it be shown on the huge screens on either side of the stage in the conference room. Nice!

The rest of the day is somewhat of a blur.

At 7pm, about one or two hundred of us show up in the conference room to watch Anderson Cooper. The show starts with other news, but soon the Browne segment starts. From the moment the title screen comes up with a picture of Sylvia Browne next to the words "DEAD WRONG", we know we are in for a treat.

I should mention that as soon as it was known that we were going to be on CNN, people were worried that - as usual - the skeptical viewpoint would be marginalized. I tried to assure everyone that from what I had heard, it looked like that would not be the case this time, and fortunately, I was right.

After that "DEAD WRONG" title card came up, we spent the next ten or twelve minutes reveling in a piece which pulled no punches. People clapped and cheered when Mr. Randi or I was on screen, booed and hissed at Browne, and whenever host Anderson Cooper used phrases like "alleged psychic" and "self-described psychic", there were shouts of "Yessss!!!!!" heard in various parts of the room.

Looking back, how perfect was that? The theme of the conference was "Skepticism and the Media," and we watched James Randi being interviewed on a news show, live, during the conference!

After it was over, the mood was definitely celebratory. The skeptical point of view had, for once, been given its due. I shook lots of hands, and got lots of Skepchick hugs.

I watched Hal's one many show (impressive, especially the Q&A portion), and Julie Sweeney and Jill Sobule's show (sweet and funny), and the night was over.

Later, I realized I had not eaten anything all day other than a sandwich at lunch, so I stopped in at the coffee shop for a late dinner. I was joined by Boo and Jeff, and we talked about what a day it had been.

Jeff asked if I had gotten any more interesting emails that day, and told them about some of the radio interview requests. I also remarked that next year, I was going to have a laptop, because I had spent somewhere around $300 at the Internet kiosks in the hotels so far.

We all finished dinner, and called it a night.

Saturday, January 20

I had breakfast at the banquet hall, sitting next to Mr. and Mrs. Wagg. Very nice people, and I defintely learned where Jeff gets his skepticism! Also at the table was Robert Todd Carroll of SkepDic.com fame, whose nametag confused me because it lacked the "Todd".

After breakfast, we entered the conference room, and as the first order of business, Hal announced to the crowd that I had spent over $300 on Internet charges, pursuing the Browne story from the hotel. A box was on the table with the JREF books for sale, and all were encouraged to donate towards reimbursing me for those costs!

I looked around the room, to see if Jeff Wagg was near enough to throw something at. He wasn't.

Next up was Mr. Randi, who started by saying that as soon as he was through at the podium, he was going to be dropping a hundred dollar bill into the Robert Lancaster fund.

Later in the day, Hal announced that a total of $786.55 had been collected.

I was touched, and I was embarrassed at the same time. As with so much that happened that week, it was just... overwhelming.

When Jeff Wagg brought it to me later, along with another $20 which someone had given him as he brought it over, I said "That's the last time I tell you how much something costs, mister!" He laughed.

Sunday, Jan 21

I wrote a brief thank-you note, hoping it could be read by Hal (or whoever) to the crowd, but there wasn't time to read it with all of the papers to be presented.

Here is what it said:

Quote:

I just want to thank everyone for all of the encouragement and support.

It has been overwhelming, and means more to me than I can say.

Much of the money collected last night will go towards obtaining DVDs of certain Montel Williams episodes to be analyzed and discussed on the web site.

Keep watching www.stopsylvia.com - there should be some interesting articles added in the coming weeks.

It doesn't say what I feel by half, but it will have to do.

As if the week had not already been wonderful enough, on Sunday night, through a series of unusual circumstances, I ended up having dinner at a very nice restaurant with Mr. Randi and his posse.

Monday, Jan 22

I bump into Chaos down in the lobby, and we eat breakfast in the coffee shop. Afterwards, I finish packing, get my car from the valet, and drive back to Los Angeles, all the while going over in my mind the events of a week which has been nothing short of... Amazing.

PS: The O'Reilly people never got back to us. And we didn't even miss them.

[kittynh]

A big highlight for me of TAM was looking up at CNN and seeing YOU!!!

Wow!

fight the good fight!

[Math Maniac]

My wife and I think back at TAM4 and remember the StopKaz presentation as one of the very best.

I know that I speak for everyone else who saw that presentation and hope for the day when you can present StopSylviaBrowne with the same success story as you did when you presented StopKaz.

I also think that your efforts are what the JREF epitomizes: grass roots, intelligent efforts by ingenious persons getting the word out about critical thinking.

Now when I meet people (or talk to students) who say, "What can I do?", I point them to your websites.

[The Bad Astronomer]

I have a long list of heroes, Mr. Lancaster.

You are near the top.

Well done, sir.

[Puggy]

What Phil said. Really man, congratulations. Great job!

Now, if a known bad astronomer would do some sooper dooper universe discovery he would get into my hereos list too.

[DiskoVilante]

Yay!
That was an awesome read.
I'm about to write my own...hopefully within the week.
I have two midterms next week!
ARRRGGGHH!!!
And I'll post the CNN vids on youtube tomorrow for sure.
I lost the DVD with all my pics and vids but I found them again.

[Brown]

I was sick at heart for not being able to attend TAM5. But I got a great deal of joy in calling up my parents and telling them that a friend of mine was going to be on CNN. And I got even more joy in watching and re-watching the segment, and joining in the flurry of posts on this forum that followed.

Well done, sir.

[cosmic]

Wonderful, wonderful story.

You are the Sunday Paper Sessions hero.

How about another paper on Browne at TAM6?
(If your not asked as a headliner!)

RH

[Quinn]

Originally Posted by cosmic

How about another paper on Browne at TAM6?
(If your not asked as a headliner!)

I am officially requesting him as a headliner, and I spit on anyone who doesn't do the same.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Robert S. Lancaster, you are da man.

[Chaos]

I am sorry to tell you, Robert, but since I arrived on Wednesday, we could not possible have had dinner on Tuesday.

[Hindmost]

Robert...you are definitely a "Candle in the Dark." I enjoyed meeting you at TAM5 and listening to your "stopkaz" paper at TAM4. Let's hope next year will we all see a presentation from you on how syliva went down in flames. What you have done takes a bunch of fortitude. Excellent.

glenn

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Originally Posted by RSLancastr

Later in the day, Hal announced that a total of $786.55 had been collected.

Who put in 55 cents?

This whole thing must be incredibly exciting. When you put the site up, did you ever expect this?

[Katana]

Thanks for sharing your experience, RSL.

As someone who will likely never feel the excitement of being contacted by a television station much less enjoying such a satisfying experience from it, that was thrilling to read about.

[RSLancastr]

Originally Posted by kittynh

A big highlight for me of TAM was looking up at CNN and seeing YOU!!!

I was even huger than in real life!

Seriously though Kitty: the talk you and I had later that evening meant a lot to me. Things like what you told me continue to keep me grounded and focused. Thank you.

Originally Posted by Math Maniac

I know that I speak for everyone else who saw that presentation and hope for the day when you can present StopSylviaBrowne with the same success story as you did when you presented StopKaz.

Thanks, MM. That day would be sweet indeed.

Originally Posted by The Bad Astronomer

I have a long list of heroes, Mr. Lancaster.

You are near the top.

Thanks, BA. You are near the top of mine as well.

Or wait, maybe that's Wiseman...

[checks...]

No, it's you! Thanks for what you do.

Originally Posted by Puggy

What Phil said. Really man, congratulations. Great job!

Thanks, Puggy!

Originally Posted by DiskoVilante

That was an awesome read.

Thanks, DV! I look forward to reading your account as well.

Originally Posted by Brown

And I got even more joy in watching and re-watching the segment, and joining in the flurry of posts on this forum that followed.

Well done, sir.

Thanks, Brown. You were missed at TAM.

Originally Posted by cosmic

Wonderful, wonderful story.

Thanks, cosmic!

Quote:

How about another paper on Browne at TAM6?

Wouldn't it be nice if there was an end to the story by then?

Originally Posted by Quinn

I've said it before, but I'll say it again: Robert S. Lancaster, you are da man.

THanks, Quinn!

Originally Posted by Chaos

I am sorry to tell you, Robert, but since I arrived on Wednesday, we could not possible have had dinner on Tuesday.

Then who was that Teutonic gentleman I ate with?

You're right of course. As I said at the beginning of the OP, the whole week was a blur. I ate dinner alone Tuesday night. Awful fish and chips. Bleah.

Originally Posted by glennmr78

Robert...you are definitely a "Candle in the Dark." I enjoyed meeting you at TAM5 and listening to your "stopkaz" paper at TAM4. Let's hope next year will we all see a presentation from you on how syliva went down in flames. What you have done takes a bunch of fortitude. Excellent.

Thanks, glenn!

Originally Posted by The Central Scrutinizer

Who put in 55 cents?

For some reason, I'm thinking DrBuzzo.

Quote:

This whole thing must be incredibly exciting. When you put the site up, did you ever expect this?

The 55 cents? Never!

No, I had no clue. I thought that eventually, the site might get a little coverage here and there. But this was just "the perfect storm," media-wise.

Originally Posted by Katana

As someone who will likely never feel the excitement of being contacted by a television station much less enjoying such a satisfying experience from it, that was thrilling to read about.

Thanks, Katana. But you never know - start a skeptical site about something for which you have a passion and see what happens!

[ob986s]

Great story Robert thanks for Sharing

I rarely watch CNN and don't recall ever watching Anderson Cooper so I must give credit to the Bad astronomer himself for putting this segment on his blog (which I check often, thanks Phil) and for giving me the chance to see it.

I hope this put a serious dent in Sylvia's pocketbook and even better exposed more people to critical thinking. I have added you to my list of hero's!

J

[DiskoVilante]

Yay! I managed to put the videos up of the Anderson Cooper special.
This are videos I took of the large screens at the convention. The sound quality is better than I expected, the visual quality is excellent, but the best part is getting the reaction so people on tape.

Part I (the beginning with RSLancaster) 294.3MB in Quicktime .MOV file type
Part II (after the commercial break - the part with Randi) 331.7MB in Quicktime .MOV file type.

YOU'RE AWESOME RSL!

[headscratcher4]

Robert: so you know, the great thing that you have done is to take the initiative. Randi's been doing this for a long time, I admire and applaud him. But it is the next group of skeptics standing forward to carry on the work that is important. You have stood up and done something terrific. You show what is possible with a little thought, care and diligence. Bravo.

[Katana]

Originally Posted by RSLancastr

{snip}

Thanks, Katana. But you never know - start a skeptical site about something for which you have a passion and see what happens!

You know? That's not half-bad. It could be therapeutic.

I don't have a background in computers, though. Is one required to start a website?

[BrianSI]

Originally Posted by Katana

You know? That's not half-bad. It could be therapeutic.

I don't have a background in computers, though. Is one required to start a website?

Blogs are free and easy. No need to get all fancy if you just want to write about skepticism.


And I'll thank RSL now also for sharing his account of the events. Once again, I feel like a slacker. And that's good for me.

[ObscureReferenceMan]

Robert - That was a great read! Thanks for sharing it with us. To echo the the sentiment we all feel... YOU DA MAN!!!

(Yet another reason to continue kicking myself for not attending TAM. But now I am looking forward to TAM6. So I can meet Robert in person and shake his hand.)

[rebecca]

Great read, Robert. I know I say it every time I see you (in person or online), but you kick ass.

Originally Posted by Katana

You know? That's not half-bad. It could be therapeutic.

I don't have a background in computers, though. Is one required to start a website?

Tsk, did you even SEE my TAM presentation??



Email me at skepchick@skepchick.org and I'll help you out in any way you need.

(Once I catch up on all my emails this weekend!)

[monoman]

That gave me goose bumps reading that Rob. Congratulations! (for the Sylvia smack down, not the goose bumps )

[alfaniner]

Originally Posted by DiskoVilante

...
And I'll post the CNN vids on youtube tomorrow for sure.

If you are talking about the Anderson Cooper interviews, I had them up within an hour of the broadcast, so no need.

Congratulations Robert -- great report! It's only slightly pleasing that I was able to follow this side of the story the more closely for not having been at TAM. Though I wish I had...

[Geek Goddess]

I will have to admit, I got chills reading your post, RSL. I feel so honored just to have been in the same room with all you people!

[grayman]

Robert, didn't I say something to you a few months ago about you receiving congratulations for bringing down Sylvia Browne with your site?

Wow, I must be psychic or something.

[RSLancastr]

Originally Posted by ob986s

I hope this put a serious dent in Sylvia's pocketbook and even better exposed more people to critical thinking. I have added you to my list of hero's!

Thanks, OB. I hope she's feeling the pinch too.

Originally Posted by DiskoVilante

Yay! I managed to put the videos up of the Anderson Cooper special.

Thanks!! I will download them this evening. I was in a daze, so it will be great to watch it without my heart pounding...

Quote:

YOU'RE AWESOME RSL!

Thanks again, DV!

Originally Posted by headscratcher4

You have stood up and done something terrific. You show what is possible with a little thought, care and diligence. Bravo.

Thanks, 'sratcher.

Originally Posted by Katana

I don't have a background in computers, though. Is one required to start a website?

Not at all. As BrianSI has already said, blogs are an easy way for a non-technical person to get into sharing his or her perspectives with the world. Give it a shot!

Originally Posted by BrianSI

And I'll thank RSL now also for sharing his account of the events. Once again, I feel like a slacker. And that's good for me.

Thanks, Brian!

Originally Posted by ObscureReferenceMan

Robert - That was a great read! Thanks for sharing it with us. To echo the the sentiment we all feel... YOU DA MAN!!!

Thanks, ORM!

Originally Posted by rebecca

Great read, Robert. I know I say it every time I see you (in person or online), but you kick ass.

Thanks, 'Becca!

And congrats on your presentation, by the way.

Originally Posted by monoman

That gave me goose bumps reading that Rob. Congratulations! (for the Sylvia smack down, not the goose bumps )

Thanks, monoman! I had goose bumps that whole week!

Originally Posted by alfaniner

If you are talking about the Anderson Cooper interviews, I had them up within an hour of the broadcast, so no need.

Thanks for that, by the way. I was able to send those links to family and friends.

Quote:

Congratulations Robert -- great report! It's only slightly pleasing that I was able to follow this side of the story the more closely for not having been at TAM. Though I wish I had...

THanks again, alfaniner. I caught some of the thread(s) where it was being covered on the forum. It was fun to read!

Originally Posted by Geek Goddess

I will have to admit, I got chills reading your post, RSL. I feel so honored just to have been in the same room with all you people!

All 800+ of us! Thanks, GG.

Originally Posted by grayman

Robert, didn't I say something to you a few months ago about you receiving congratulations for bringing down Sylvia Browne with your site?

So you did!

Quote:

Wow, I must be psychic or something.

Hmm, I wonder if www.StopGrayman.com is already taken?

[DiskoVilante]

Originally Posted by alfaniner

If you are talking about the Anderson Cooper interviews, I had them up within an hour of the broadcast, so no need.

Wow, you're fast.
Well, they're already on my server. The videos I took also had the crowd reaction which was wonderful to see.

[Fitter]

Originally Posted by RSLancastr

Hmm, I wonder if www.StopGrayman.com is already taken?

Grayman can't be stopped. He's as powerful as a locomotive, and really really cool to boot.

[grayman]

Able to leap tall women in a single bound.

[alfaniner]

Originally Posted by DiskoVilante

Wow, you're fast.
Well, they're already on my server. The videos I took also had the crowd reaction which was wonderful to see.

Excellent -- I will be checking those out as well.

[Katana]

Originally Posted by rebecca

Great read, Robert. I know I say it every time I see you (in person or online), but you kick ass.



Tsk, did you even SEE my TAM presentation??



Email me at skepchick@skepchick.org and I'll help you out in any way you need.

(Once I catch up on all my emails this weekend!)

I'm sorry, rebecca! I didn't see it, but I'm sure that it was wonderful.

Thank you for the offer of help. I will definitely keep that in mind.

[grayman]

Originally Posted by rebecca

Tsk, did you even SEE my TAM presentation??

Pssst, she wasn't at TAM.

[TJ]

Robert,

Just like I told you on Saturday afternoon, my respect for you runs deep. We get together and bask in the glory of skepticism, but you are really doing something to raise the public awareness of it - really getting your hands dirty and putting yourself out there for derision from believers and potential litigation.

You, sir, are one of my heroes as well, and I salute you with all of the respect in my being.

Side note -

Mr. Lancaster was sitting right behind me all day on Saturday, and when I handed him 10 dollars for the Internet Charges Relief Fund he looked completely abashed. The humility behind his courage is really something.

[Luciana]

Robert rocks!

I'm really sorry for those who only found it out recently.

[Katana]

Originally Posted by grayman

Pssst, she wasn't at TAM.

Oh, sure. Rub it in.

[Dicon]

Robert, I think you're forgetting to thank the one person who is most responsible for your successes.

That is, of course, Kaz.

[Gravy]

Bravo, Robert. You're an inspiration!

[Chaos]

Originally Posted by Desktop Icon

Robert, I think you're forgetting to thank the one person who is most responsible for your successes.

That is, of course, Kaz.

[EverLastingGodStopper]

Robert, I am totally impressed. Thank you for the great post and for all that you do. It's awesome.

[DanishDynamite]

Extremely well done, RSL! You're achievements are a goal to strive for.