Just a quickie. Today turned out to be a much longer day than we thought it would be, so I haven’t had but a few minutes to review my shots from the day. I really was taken by this little boy and luckily, I was able to snap this shot of him in the box seats with his grown-ups. (I also like what is written on the sign behind him)
I’ll be at the 2012 Reno Air Races through Sunday, and while I’m taking a lot of photos, you probably won’t hear much from me. It’s pretty much a sunrise to sundown activity for the next few days.
Before the crowds come, the volunteers arrive and get things ready. This fellow is bringing a cooler to one of the box seats. I like how the lens flare frames his body.
As I wandered through the box seats, I snapped this box seat decoration. The guy who “owns” this box comes every year. For those of us who return, year after year, it is like a big family.
We went to see Bill Nye at the University of Nevada tonight. The stage lighting was quite challenging!
Looking at the sundial. And looking . . . and looking. . . (yes, there is a back-story to this!)
Just one more.
You can find more at my SmugMug Gallery. There was a science expo outside the Joe Crowley Student Union (“The Joe”) and I’ll be posting those photos as well. I’ve got some up, but it’s late and I need to get to bed.
Just a few from Friday . . .
At eight in the morning we all gathered for a live show of the Skeptics Guide to the Universe.
George Hrab, musician, skeptic, host of the Geologica podcast, and emcee of the conference, gets things started with a song and video.
Eugenie Scott, Executive Director of the National Center for Science Education (and a personal hero of mine).
James Randi having a laugh during his conversation with Jamy Ian Swiss.
Jamy Ian Swiss cracking up over something or ‘nother.
Carol Tavris gave Friday night’s keynote, “A Skeptical Look at Pseudoneuroscience.”
After the keynote we had a Friday the 13th mirror-breaking. Funny thing, this guy had a dickens of a time actually breaking the mirror as he was not whacking it hard enough!
Said mirror breaking was followed by a pinata . . .
. . . which was followed by the Skeptics Guide to the Universe fundraising dinner. Sweetie and I attended.
Four out of five of the hosts of the SGU podcast, Steven Novella, Bob Novella, Jay Novella, and Evan Bernstein.
The highlight of the evening had to be when Evan auctioned off his New York Jets jersey with the #15 on it, but instead of Tebow, the name across the back was “SKEPTIC.”
Evan’s demonstration for the people at the dinner who had no idea of who Tim Tebow is.
There are lots of photos in SmugMug gallery, but I think my favorite capture of the night was this shot of Bob and Steve Novella.
By this time, Sweetie and I were exhausted, so we headed to our room. We thought of attending Penn Jillette’s Bacon and Donut Party (start time” 11pm), but we were just too pooped.
Lots more photos at the TAM SmugMug gallery.
The Amaz!ng Meeting is sponsored by the James Randi Educational Foundation and is a four-day conference that celebrates science and critical thinking. We’ve gone twice and likely will attend again next year. It is four days long and packed full of interesting workshops, panels, guest speakers, and lots of fun.
I’m working hard on completing the Amaz!ng Meeting gallery and only have one more day of photos to go through. I hope to have it completed by tomorrow. Here are a few..
James Randi schmoozing with an attendee on Thursday.
Thursday is reserved for workshops. I attended four.
This is Leo Igwe. He participated in a workshop called “From Witch-burning to God-men: Supporting Skepticism Around the World.” His stories of the horrors of the belief in witches in Africa were stunning.
Attendees at this workshop.
This is Tim Farley, web master of the web site What’s the Harm Check it out. He and Derek Colanduno (the host of the podcast, Skepticality) led a workshop on skepticism online.
An attendee at one of Thursday’s workshops.
Attendees at the workshop entitled: “Dr. Google – How to find reliable health information online and elsewhere, and skeptically evaluate the information you find.”
The coalition-building workshop broke us out into groups.
The workshops were followed by dinner, the Welcome Reception and the game show “Wait, Wait, Don’t Fool Me.” It was a late night, but we were all up bright and early for the 8am taping of The Skeptics Guide to the Universe podcast.
More later . . . I need to get to sleep.
Known as the Pinehaven Fire, it is near Caughlin Ranch, the same area where 30 homes were destroyed last year due to a wind-whipped fire. Fortunately, it appears no structures are threatened at this point, but the fire started because of a high-speed chase by the police in which the fleeing suspect rolled the car which sparked the fire. Needless to say, the fire became the priority and the suspect is still at large.
I shot some at around 1pm, but this one was taken this evening after I left work at about 5:30. You’ll need to click on it to see the larger photo.
On a lighter note, these two doves were perched on the telephone wires above me and appeared to be watching the planes and helicopters working to put out the fire.
These cattle were oblivious to it all.
There are more photos are in my SmugMug gallery which I will continue to add to as I go through my shots and post the better ones.
While this is nothing compared to what’s going on in Colorado and elsewhere, for us in the west, fire season is just getting started.
Speaking of which….we’ve got another fire.
Carissa Snedeker Photography 