Chicago Skepticamp Returns! (non-fiction)

From 2007 to 2019, local skeptic activists organized Skepticamps. They were loosely organized one day events in which local area speakers gave presentations about various skeptical topics. Most were free events, with the expectation to either give a presentation or volunteer to help run it. Skepticamps were alternatives to the big name conventions, like TAM or CFI’s gatherings. While the big events focused on presentations by big name speakers, Skepticamps were grassroots affairs that were much more democratic.

I was an organizer and presenter at Chicago Skepticamp for years. My presentations were based on my experiences publishing the Bolingbrook Babbler. My favorite was about the people who thought the Babbler was a serious news source. The story about ghosts who were cryptozoologists created a stir in a Bigfoot forum. It was fun, and I got work with my friends in the Chicago Skeptics group.

Unfortunately, I started drifting away from the members. When I tried to promote my novel, The Rift, my flyer was firmly rejected. One of the co-leads anonymously told me The Rift was crap. She’d never read any of my drafts, but because it dealt with the deep rifts in the movement, it couldn’t have been good. It turned out not to be a big deal because The Rift wouldn’t be ready for publication for several more years. Looking back, it felt like the beginning of the end. Later one, one person passive aggressively call my wife and I, “The Brinkmans,” even though my wife kept her last name. My association with Chicago Skeptics came to an end when I rage quit their Facebook group, and wouldn’t let me rejoin.  I went on to join FtB, finishing The Rift, and volunteering at Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation.

Last week, I found out that Chicago Skepticamp was back. This time it’s in Deerfield, IL, a suburb of Chicago. I suspect there’s a new group behind its resurgence, which I’m fine with. I doubt I’ll attend, but it is bittersweet to see it return. I wish the new organizers the best.

If you’re interested in attending, it’s on July 27 from 12:00 to 6 PM at Demetri’s Greek Restaurant. Two notable speakers are Notable speakers include Rabbi Adam Chalom and Susan Gerbic.

Rabbi Chalom is the dean of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism and rabbi at Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation. He recently co-edited Contemporary Humanistic Judaism: Beliefs, Values, Practices.

Susan Gerbic runs Guerrilla Skepticism, a private group of skeptics who edit Wikipedia pages to promote skepticism. Haley Stevens and PZ Myers have posted their issues with Guerrilla Skepticism.

The organizers say they will have more speakers. I hope, in the spirt of Skepticamp, they’re either not as well known, or maybe people speaking publicly for the first time.

Space Force Marines ‘accidentally’ assist masked robbers (Fiction)

A squad of Space Force marines helped two convenience store robbers, disguised as masked ICE agents, escape the Bolingbrook police.

“Space Force made a gross error of judgement,” said a source within the Bolingbrook police department. “ICE agents don’t confiscate money. They confiscate illegal people! That squad never should have gotten involved!”

Juan, not his real name, claimed he was working at Speedy Eats when two masked men wearing ICE vests barged into the store.

“They said they were going to arrest me because I looked illegal,” said Juan. “I knew what they meant. So it wouldn’t have mattered if I told them I was a US Citizen who grew up in Bolingbrook.”

Though he expected to be disappeared, the ICE agent said they could collect the million dollar fine the business owed for “insufficient employment of white Americans.” Juan broke his silenced to say there wasn’t enough money in the store to pay it. The alleged ICE Agent then said Juan could give them all the money in the cash register as a down payment.

“At that point, it was a robbery, not a raid. I triggered the silent alarm and hoped the police could see through their disguise.”

Before the police arrived, a Space Force drop ship landed in the parking lot. According to Juan, a squad of heavily armed marines wearing armored space suits rushed out of the ship and into the store. Juan thought they were going to detain the robbers.

“Imagine my horror when their leader said, ‘We’re the 1st Vance Couch Squad, and we’re here to assist you.’ The robbers looked dumbfounded for a moment. Unfortunately, one robber told the squad leader to hold off the Bolingbrook police while they collected the fines. That dumbass squad leader didn’t question the order. I tried to speak up, but the marines ignored me.”

Patrol Officer Matt, not his real name, claims the Space Marine squad destroyed his patrol car.

“When I saw the ship and the armed astronauts, I thought they were cosplayers. Until they pointed their gun and melted the front of my car. l shot at them, but the bullets bounced off their suits. So I ran away. Hey, it’s my job to arrest criminals, not get disintegrated by them.”

According to Juan, the Space Marines offered to fly the fake ICE agents to safety. The phony agents declined, but asked them to stop the ongoing insurgency at Village Center. 

“The squad leader asked for permission to capture the board of trustees. But his superior officer refused. He said they were needed in Los Angeles to stop an insurrection. I didn’t want to know any more.”

According to Juan and Matt, the space marines ran back to their ship and flew away.

While village officials deny Space Force was in Bolingbrook, some sources say Bolingbrook Mayor Mary Alexander-Basta sent an invoice to Space Force for the damages inflicted by the squad. 

Space Force officials refused to comment.

A spokesperson for ICE threatened to deport this reporter for interfering with ICE business.

Also in the Babbler:

ICE Agents denied access to Palatine’s UFO Base
Canada offers to buy Chicago
Werecats spotted in Bolingbrook
God to smite Bolingbrook on 6/11/25

Note: This is a work of fiction. All opinions expressed are my own. They do not reflect the views of any organization I work for or of my employer. 

My upcoming Urban Fantasy novel, Revenge of the Phantom Press, is available to preorder. If you like Urban Fantasy, like the Dresden Files and Welcome to Night Vale, you’ll like Revenge. It’s part of the Bolingbrook Babbler Stories books, which are available through all retailers.