Distracted at #scio2010


I am going against the herd here at ScienceOnline 2010 — I am not tweeting and blogging throughout the event, but am just sitting back and enjoying the talks, while all the nerds are pounding away at their keyboards. (Note sneaky implication that I am not a nerd with the rest of ’em.)

However, I did just do my interview with Reddit, so it’s all recorded and done with and merely awaiting editing and publishing. It will probably be available online on Tuesday — be patient, I’ll put up a link when it is available.

I will remind you also that tonight at 9pm EST I’ll be helping to raise money for relief in New Orleans by battling a preacher on BlogTV. This is a great sacrifice for me, since I’ll be dragging myself away from the bar and the lively group of people here at SciOnline to answer a pile of questions from a well-meaning but entirely delusional fellow. Tune in, cheer and howl, and kick in a few bucks if you can to the effort.

I’ll be back in action tomorrow.

Comments

  1. Nerd of Redhead, OM says

    I’ll be back in action tomorrow.

    Gasp, only the one post today? Must calm nerves…

  2. Zeno says

    Poor PZ. You’re going to be bored to tears because 99% of the preacher’s comments and questions will be stuff you’ve heard before ad nauseam. (The other 1% will consist of original random arrangements of misunderstood and misremembered scientific terms. The most robust of these mutations will be hardy enough to survive as new entries in the creationist lexicon of blunt but specious weapons.)

  3. Blind Squirrel FCD says

    Is this the best time to be fund raising for New Orleans? Those folks aren’t pinned under a slab or anything. Just saying…

    BS

  4. alysonmiers says

    (Note sneaky implication that I am not a nerd with the rest of ’em.)

    But why would it be a bad thing to be a nerd with the rest of ’em? Nerditude is cool!

  5. The Thomas Society says

    Naked Bunny,
    I don’t think anyone wants to see me or PZ shirtless. The idea is to get people to watch and donate, not scare them. :)

    And, PZ, I’m only delusional when it comes to my belief that my cat actually cares what I think. Other than that…

  6. imroykun says

    As much as I like to think that being a “nerd” has become “cool” in my lifetime, perhaps the more accurate explanation is that the term has merely been subtly redefined for marketing purposes.

    Think about it – the modern image of nerds involves a whole lot of “gadgets”. Nerds are seen on TV talking about the latest computer gear, or mobile phone, or some other thing to be *bought*. How often do you seen these nerds talking about getting by on a five year old Thinkpad or Macbook? Or that they simply don’t have much need for a mobile phone? Or using non-glamorous, non-mainstream gear, like HAM radio?

    This might just be the rant of an anti-social old-school nerd who’s unhappy with the way the “kids” of today treat technology. But I do think the whole nerd/geek label has been exploited by marketers

  7. Brownian, OM says

    @The Thomas Society:

    And, PZ, I’m only delusional when it comes to my belief that my cat actually cares what I think. Other than that…

    Cats most certainly do not care what you or anyone else thinks. However, successfully living with one requires the soft delusion that they care, in the same sense that it may be a delusion that the universe is understandable and thus predictable yet it’s the only operable delusion.

  8. Nerd of Redhead, OM says

    How often do you seen these nerds talking about getting by on a five year old Thinkpad or Macbook?

    Not all us nerds are up to date. I just put a new PRAM battery in a 9 year old G4 Mac. It’s for the Redhead’s use, if she ever decides the mouse won’t bite, after I finally upgraded from it last summer.

  9. Bride of Shrek OM says

    (Note sneaky implication that I am not a nerd with the rest of ’em.)

    Ooooh, look at you, all tough all of a sudden. Take the man out of his lab and he’s instantly transformed into jockboy. I’ll have you know nerds and geeks are very sexy.

    I’ve got a serious thing for men in glasses. (well, actually, now that I’m back on the market after 8 years I’ll settle for a man with a pulse)

  10. https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawncr0FDc8gdl7yJBz0SJ15D0etcTIOtL0s says

    Am I a bird nerd or a garden geek? Can’t decide, can’t decide.

    Meanwhile, if these boyos won’t go topless, I propose a pie fight.

    Ron Sullivan
    http://toad.faultline.org

  11. 'Tis Himself, OM says

    It’s for the Redhead’s use, if she ever decides the mouse won’t bite

    If the mouse does bite then this is where the cat comes in. I’ll be happy to rent my cat reasonably cheaply if the need arises.

  12. DLC says

    The cat probably doesn’t care what I think, but at least he’s better company than that stupid git Rimmer !

  13. Tom Wood says

    I’d be a little surprised if the sign on the car in Newfie’s image is legal. It looks like if the wind catches that sign right it’d get ripped off of the car and possibly do some major damage to whoever is driving behind.

  14. Tory says

    What about the retro geeks?
    Ah, the giddy joy of finding an ancient computer with Windows 3.1 on it in the trash to discover that it’s in nearly perfect condition and will do everything I tell it to so long as I don’t stress it beyond its capabilities, unlike certain OTHER machines I’ve met (I’m talking to you, WinME frankenputer monstrosity)

  15. Newfie says

    @The Thomas Society

    wow, you are a boring Christian. And I mean that in the nicest sense. You’re almost too sensible. :)

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_myth_theory

    once you realize that Saul’s vision was a construct for some messianic jews, and he was just the L.Ron Hubbard, Joesph Smith, et. al. of his day, the shackles of myth will fall. Hats off for keeping it going for 2 millenia though, that’s not too shabby, eh?

  16. monado says

    If it’s in the Sigma Xi building again, tippy-toe upstairs and take a look at the beautiful framed covers of American Scientist magazine.