h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I believe some people do something called 'relaxing' at weekends. I remember that...

We seem to be coming towards the end of the hectic phase with h2g2, the time where it was virtually impossible to leave the computer in case SOMETHING happened, when there were 30+ guru queries a day. In fact it's getting towards the time when I can take some weekends of h2g2.

I still feel that h2g2 will fall apart into a pile of pixels if I move away from the computer, but so far that hasn't happened. So time to take on the next project : that's helping to organise the 'Edinburgh Science Festival Fringe' which Edinburgh Skeptics are putting on. The Edinburgh festival is a big formal even with high brow classical music etc, it has a fringe of far smaller scale, more informal events. The Edinburgh Science festival is a big formal event, with lots of high brow talks etc - and we've recently decided to try and get a fringe together. We're putting on Skeptics in the Pub every night during the science festival. So far we've got speakers, we've got a venue, and we've just got into the Science Festival brochure, that deadline's tomorrow, and the copies all ready. All we need to sort out is publicity, and some one to do the podcasting. Simples.

We joined Edinburgh Skeptics when we moved up here, it's been a great way of meeting some really interesting people, and we've made some really good friends through it. As well as 'Skeptics in the Pub' we go to their book club, and to the drinking skeptically event.

One of the things I always envied about Christians was how when they moved they only had to join a church to find an instant group of friends. I'm assuming other religions are the same. Fortunately skeptics has provided the same thing for us atheists.

*ahem*

I *founded* the book club. Well, co-founded it actually.

B

I'm a member of Skeptics ITP in Winchester, Hampshire. It's a lot of fun, but I am a new member and I haven't filled out my social circle with new interesting minds as yet (that's what h2g2 is for!).

As an aside I don't know if you have come across Mark Stevenson's "An optimist's guide to the future". He is my cousin and the founder of "The league of pragmatic optimists" an organisation that aims to take the world's problems by the scruff of the neck and give them a thoughtful kicking.

All the best with the festival dear Doctor.

Tim.