Welcome to your last year on the planet. Yup, apparently we’re all going out in a great big explosion of Mayan doom sometime late this year. I’m sorry, I don’t know the details. It’s just what I hear, and I always believe what I hear.

Anyway, since I feel it is my job to make sure your final year starts off as good as possible, I’ve decided to have yet another a very special video chat just for you. So make sure you come, because there will be many other doomed souls there to share in the reckless abandon that will be your last year, ever.

Here’s the link, see you there [9pm ET, Friday, 1/6/2012]:
http://connectpro30341441.adobeconnect.com/socialgroup20120106/

That’s right, there IS a video chat tonight, at the usual time, 9pm ET, and yes there is going to be a very special guest. I just can’t tell you who it is. Well, I could, especially now because he’s confirmed that he will be able to make it, but I’d rather just tease you. I’m mean like that. I’d tell you to trust me, and that if you join the chat with us, it will be fun, but you won’t, because I’m mean, and you can’t trust a big meanie.

Anyway, try to figure out who’s going to be there and bring some questions, or if you’re really motivated, send me some suggestions for “science or fiction”.

Here’s the link, see you then!
http://connectpro30341441.adobeconnect.com/mysteryguest20111117/

Yes, there is a video chat tomorrow, Friday, Nov 4th! I know you’re excited, I’m excited too! There’s nothing that validates my reclusive anti-social life more than virtually pretending I’m doing something social when I’m really alone, with my cats and my computer. Well, anyway.

As you know, one of my favorite things about VDS is the story telling. I can’t get out to all of the mega-skeptic-nerdy-social events around the country, so I do my best to get people who do attend these things to come on video chat and share their crazy stories, while we all make fun of them. (We’re really crying on the inside because wished we were there)

Apparently there was a mega-skeptical event last weekend, on Halloween, in New Orleans, and from what I hear IT WAS CRAZY! So, I know at least ONE of you out there must have some great stories to tell (I’m looking at you Bob, Brian, and um … others). So get your ass on video chat tomorrow so we can all be envious of your good times. (Or I may make you suffer by subjecting you to more cute cat pictures) 

Here’s the link for tomorrow’s chat:
http://connectpro30341441.adobeconnect.com/socialgroup20111104/ 

I know you’re all super excited about special guest Maki Naro next week, but don’t forget you can get your video chat fix this week as well. Our regular “Social Group” meets this Friday, October 7th, at the usual 9pm ET. See you there!

Here’s the chat link:
http://connectpro30341441.adobeconnect.com/socialgroup20111007/ 

Next Friday, October 14th, Maki Naro, from the spectacular blogs Sci-ənce and Mad Art Lab, will be joining us on video chat. Apparently, he “is an artist, incurable geek, and lover of cooking, public radio, small animals, and Blade Runner”. Also, “He can hit a man from a hundred yards while riding at full gallop”. Whoa! Now we’re talking! Well, all I know is that he sports one of the best beards in skepticism (ahem, not *the* best, obviously).

Anyway, come hang out with him, myself, and a bunch of other people, next Friday. It’ll be fun! 

Here’s the link for this chat:
http://connectpro30341441.adobeconnect.com/makinaro20111014/

Well it’s Friday again, so you know what that means … or well, it doesn’t. Yup, there’s no chat tonight. Yes, this is one of those regular Fridays that I have to spend time with those tiny little skeptics that live with me, and eat my food, and are always expecting me to do things for them (and I love it). 

Anyway, since you’re not going to be hanging out with skeptics on the video chat, make sure to go listen to some of the Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe’s 24 hour show. I don’t know if I’ll be able to listen to the whole thing, but I’m going to make sure to listen tomorrow evening, right about the time when they start become delirious (I suspect it’ll be quite silly). 

Don’t forget! Next Friday we’re having on Sara Mayhew! See you then.

If you’ve been on the chat recently, you’ve probably met Sara Mayhew, resident of the remote outpost that is Kirkland Lake, Ontario. If you haven’t met her, you should, she’s brilliant, talented, AND CANADIAN! She’s also a TED fellow, gave fascinating talks at TAM and Dragon*con, does this cool skeptical manga called “Legend of the Ztarr”, and I believe she is currently working on a script for a sci-fi action movie based upon a dream she recently had (well, that one I might’ve exaggerated a bit). Unlike her usual appearances, we’re actually going to give her plenty of opportunity to talk, Friday, September 30th, at 9pm ET. Join us!

Here’s the link to the chat (will open ~30 minutes prior to the start time)
http://connectpro30341441.adobeconnect.com/saramayhew20110930/ 

I’ve got some good news and some bad news.

The good news is that Adobe Connect was just updated (well, a few weeks back) to a brand spanking shiny new version (8.1.2) and this is supposed to fix all of our current problems. Amazingly enough, judging from this past Friday’s performance, it seem to be working very well. There were few serious audio problems, and only intermittent video problems - although it seemed like the video “freezing” is most likely the new software’s method of dealing with bandwidth limitations. Anyway, 3 hours of chat went very smoothly, well mostly, well… better than usual. (Yes, I recognize that some of these problems are still around, causing some people to have to leave the chat and come back, repeatedly. But it IS getting better…slowly).

The bad news is that if you’re one of the sad frustrated people who’ve upgraded to MacOS 10.7 “Lion” then you’re pretty much screwed. There’s an issue with Flash that mostly prevents your microphone to work, leaving you staring and listening, but mostly frustrated that you can’t participate. On top of this, here’s all that Adobe has to say on the matter, “Uh…we’re working on it”. Great, thanks for nothing.

Anyway, If this effects you, stay tuned, because I’m staying on top of it and will let you know when we can go back to just having the old, expected problems, and not all these new ones, eh?

Also, watch the schedule. I’m working on adding new and exciting special guests.

Yup, you heard it right, Brian Thompson, the Field Coordinator for the James Randi Education Foundation, will be on the video chat, September 9th, at the usual time (9pm ET) to talk about all of the upcoming JREF kick-ass-ed-ness, and if we’re lucky, he’ll be funny too. Don’t believe that such a stuffy and serious do-gooder can be funny? Check out his podcasts-a-plenty: Amateur Scientist, The Death Panel, and Ask a Canadian.

Trust me, he’s been on the chat before, it was fun, so you’ll definitely not want to miss it. JUST BE THERE.

Also, don’t forget the wickedly smart Fraser Cain [not Frasier Crane] will be on next week.