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March April pages_SI new design masters 2/1/12 12:48 PM Page 15 CONFERENCE REPORT] along and even following the parade. We Where Meeting hope to have the same public reaction to our critical thinking! Awesome Skeptics This is what CSICon is about: showing Is As Easy As that skepticism is not only important but also fun. Saying ‘Hello’ The party included music, dancing, jam- JULIA LAVARNWAY balaya, and Halloween costumes. Blake Smith, of the IIG in Atlanta, won the best r e skeptically themed costume award for his ven before CSICon 2011 in New l g n E “Occam’s Shaving Cream” outfit. E Orleans officially began, I was al- . D n Unlike in other conference reports, the ready having great conversations with a i r B : cuisine deserves a mention too. CSICon de- skeptics from all over the country. While o t o h parted from the usual bland conference fare, helping at the registration table I met p offering crab cakes with a spicy remoulade, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER readers and sup- eggs benedict with andouille, and an ice porters from as close as a few blocks cream buffet with freshly made waffle cones. away from the conference hotel to as The conference concluded with CSI’s an- far away as the United Kingdom. It nual Houdini séance hosted by Joe Nickell. was amazing to see people from so The session included talks by cold-reading many places convening in one place to expert Ray Hyman and psychic-buster Mas- celebrate reason, science, and skeptical simo Polidoro. Unfortunately but unsurpris- inquiry. ingly, Houdini didn’t turn up, yet again. It sure is something to be surrounded y a Disappointed that the festivities were by so many like-minded people. Dorion w n r a over, enthusiastic skeptics continued the Cable, who authored a great write-up v a L a i revelry with a post-conference tour of the on CSICon 2011 on her Detroit-based l u J : beautiful flora and fauna of the Louisiana blog (http://bit.ly/CSIConMCB), com - o t o h swamps and marshes. men ted that she recalls no place other p In general, the conference was a wonder- than CSICon that people have actually ful opportunity to learn and share learning, recog nized her Flying Spaghetti Mon- reconnect with old friends, and establish ster necklace. But even some non–con- new friendships. Attendees left the confer- ference-goers had their interest piqued ence armed with new information and per- by the high concentration of skeptics. spectives, reinvigorated to step outside of One hotel employee remarked, “You the conference hall and take skepticism to guys have the guy from the X-Files and the streets. Bill Nye the Science Guy? My nerd self This was a highly successful and refresh- just freaked out.” ingly different conference. Nego tiations are The first session after opening re - k a s already underway for next year. It is ru- marks on Thursday was “The In vesti - s I m mored that CSICon 2012 is being planned gators” panel with stellar talks from Joe a d A : o to be even bigger and better and that CSI- Nickell, Massimo Polidoro, Karen Stol- t o h Con is poised to become a preeminent lznow, and Ben Radford on various in- p skeptical conference for years to come. vestigations they’ve undertaken. Be cause the topic of women in the skeptics Karen Stollznowis a CSI fellow and member of the CSI Executive Council. A linguist and researcher at the Uni- movement is of particular interest to me, versity of California, Berkeley, she also cohosts CFI’s I was happy that I was able to ask Karen Point of Inquiry podcast, writes CSI’s online “The Stollznow during the Q&A session after Naked Skeptic” column, and is a SKEPTICAL INQUIRER her talk if she has noticed any advan- contributing editor. tages or disadvantages to being a female Richard Saunders gets help from SI Deputy Editor Ben Radford during his talk on Power Balance; James r e l g “The Amazing” Randi conjures an origami Pigasus; Indre Viskontas and Karen Stollznow take a break from n E . D skepticizing to smile for the camera; SI columnist Steven Novella tries his luck in the costume contest, n a i emceed by Skepchick Rebecca Watson, with his Dr. Horrible costume. r B : o t o h p Skeptical Inquirer | March/April 2 012 15 March April pages_SI new design masters 2/2/12 2:54 PM Page 16 don’t want to talk to you anymore.” CSI Fellow Richard Saunders, Life It was my conversations at CSICon about women in Member of the Australian Skeptics and skepticism over dinner with Karen [Stollznow], the sole skeptical judge on Australia’s Miracle Detectives star Indre Viskontas, and CFI psychic-seeking reality show The One, was another delight to meet. I think ebul- Communications Director Michelle Blackley that in spired lient is the best word to describe Richard. me to get more involved in the movement. You’d be hard up to meet a more enthu- siastic and personable skeptic. Richard not only allowed me to film him creating a JREF Pigasus (http://bit.ly/Saunders paranormal investigator—a minority own talks are engaging and entertain- Origami), he also invited me to appear within a minority. She answered that she ing. on The Skeptic Zone podcast (http:// hasn’t noticed her gender making a big Another highlight of the conference bit.ly/skepticzone158). His Sunday difference either way but that many of was once again seeing CSI Fellow James presentation debunking Power Balance the people she meets tend to assume she Randi—they sure don’t call him “The bands, in which he had some help from is a believer. Amazing” for nothing. His talk during SI Deputy Editor Ben Radford in the Meeting Karen after many years of the “Sleights of Mind” panel on Friday form of audience participation (http:// exchanging the occasional email was a was nothing short of inspiring. He re - bit.ly/powerbalancedemo), was a big conference highlight for me. As I gushed minded us all that no matter how much hit. (See also, “Power Balance Down on my Twitter page: “Finally met @karen pride we take in our skepticism and crit- and Out in Australia,” SI, September/ stollznow in person! She’s just as awe- ical thinking skills, every one of us can October 2011 and “Power Balance some as I knew she’d be.” It was my con- fall prey to tricks and smoke and mirrors: Bracelets a Bust in Tests,” SI, January/ versations at CSICon about women in “I don’t tell you how the tricks are done skepticism over dinner with Karen, Mir- for a very simple reason . I want you to February 2012). acle Detectives star Indre Viskontas, and know that you can be deceived.” One of My vote for “quote of the conference” CFI Communications Director Michelle my very favorite conference keepsakes is came from SI Editor Ken Frazier during Blackley that in spired me to get more a picture I was able to snap of Randi the close of his opening re marks on involved in the movement and to start “conjuring” CSI Fellow Richard Saun- Thursday: “One of the secrets we’ve kept the blog We Are SkeptiXX (http://bit.ly/ ders’s famous origami Pigasus, the mas- from the public all these years is that skeptixx). cot of the James Randi Educational skepticism is not just important, it’s also Phil Plait’s talk on the “Death from Foundation (JREF). fun!” CSICon 2011 in New Orleans cer- the Skies!” panel on Friday had me in Another panel I really enjoyed was tainly proved the truth of Ken’s aphorism. stitches. “How do you keep [asteroids Saturday’s “Skepticism and the Media,” Where else but CSICon would I have from hitting the Earth]?” he asked his which featured William B. Davis of X- had the opportunity to have incredibly captivated audience. “Well, if you ask Files fame, Miracle Detec tives star Indre interesting conversations with luminaries Hollywood . you will get the wrong an- Viskontas, and New York Times science in the skeptics movement while fast- swer.” After showing a clip from the hor- writer Sandra Blakeslee. Led by CFI dancing with the “big boss,” CFI presi- ribly inaccurate 1998 movie Arma ged don, Communica tions Director Michelle dent and CEO Ron Lindsay; rockin’ out Plait pointed out that perhaps the most Blackley, it was the first CSI/CSICOP to the Heathens (led by Inde pendent In- ludicrous detail in the scene is the fact conference panel with a female modera- vestigations Group founder Jim Under- that it is violently raining on the asteroid tor. After Davis’s engaging talk in which down); eating ice cream with the emi- as Bruce Willis attempts to get the bomb he admitted he once unknowingly agreed nent Massimo Polidoro; and admiring into place. What’s wrong with that? Just to moderate a panel of 9/11 Truthers— the awesomeness that was Steven the little fact that asteroids don’t have “You must do your homework!” he re- Novella’s Dr. Horrible costume for the their own atmospheres and therefore minded us—Indre Viskontas wondered “Smarti Gras” party? I will most defi- there is no weather on them. I was able aloud, “How can I follow Cancer Man? nitely be back at CSICon 2012, and I to talk with Plait for a couple minutes Well, at least I wore my cigarette pants.” hope to meet even more of you SI readers and compliment him on his ability to On a more serious note, she went on to and supporters there.
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