Alison Smith runs the Skeptical Analysis of the Paranormal Society where she and others put the hammer down on fake ghost hunters. She does a pretty good job; at Dragon*Con a while back she had the TAPS guys from the SciFi channel show almost literally running away from her.
The SAPS folks created a fun little sticker showing a ghost with a red slash through it, and distributed them at TAM 6. Alison posted pictures of some skeptics wearing or using the SAPS stickers. I stuck one on my laptop, and she has the goods on me. On the other hand, Adam Savage talked right after me and used my laptop to show a behind-the-scenes Mythbusters thing, so she has a picture of him using my computer as well. Coooool.
You might see guys like Neil Tyson and Richard Saunders and Michael Shermer and James Randi & Derek and Swoopy with the stickers on Alison’s page as well.
Oh, you want a sticker too? That’s easy: send your mailing address to her at alison "at" randi "dot" org and she’ll send you one. Get your picture taken with it and she’ll post it! Make sure there are orbs or rods or British soldier ghosts in it. You’ll score more brownie points.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:12 am
Nice laptop Phil. Is that the 15 or 17 Pro? I just picked up a 15 pro and LOVE IT! My first Mac ever, picked it up because the screen and keyboard on mac laptops are the greatest.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:21 am
ouch, stickers on Apple notebook. This is so wrong
July 17th, 2008 at 9:49 am
You’re a Mac user? That explains the high level of intelligence and the enlightened attitude.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:57 am
My next computer! Rimantas, I think this is far more wrong:
http://homepage.mac.com/mrbrown2195/images/woz.jpg
July 17th, 2008 at 10:02 am
The other sticker, if you’re curious, says Bidlack for Congress.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Reminds me of the sign of the “ghost busters”, doesn’t it? I guess this is intended?!?
July 17th, 2008 at 10:52 am
You let somebody else use your laptop? Have you Mac people ever heard of Safe Hex?
July 17th, 2008 at 11:24 am
@ Rimantas,
“My” Apple notebook has a sticker. It says, “Property of US Government”…
NASA is actually pretty heavy on Macs, although I think the ISS still uses Sun Unix.
July 17th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I remember that. While Adam was loading up the clip, I saw some Daleks in the background and I was like “Hmm. I bet that’s Phil’s laptop.”
July 17th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Pretty nifty! I remember seeing the stickers at TAM and thought they were pretty cool. I never managed to get one myself, though. I’ll get one now, though!
July 17th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Fantastic! ^_^ What’s the other sticker - the blue one?
July 17th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Rimantas Says: “ouch, stickers on Apple notebook. This is so wrong.”
…. I agree, but I would leave out the first 3 words of your sentence too… *hides* ;p
July 18th, 2008 at 1:21 am
Think my brother might be interested in one of those stickers.
http://www.eons.com/groups/topic/490118-LITTLE-GIRL-IN-THE-ATTIC
He faked a photo and ended up getting it shown on a sci-fi channel program before owning up about it
July 18th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Wayne, “Property of US Government”. So what are you saying, you’re part of the cover-up too!
July 18th, 2008 at 10:01 am
Oh, I’m glad you explained the acronym… I thought it stood for “Skeptics Against Paranormal Silliness” (I suppose either works, really…)
August 19th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
[…] the urging of Phil Plait, I emailed Alison, and she was nice enough to send me a SAPS sticker just like the one Phil has on […]
September 8th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I just sent Alison some stealthy photos I was able to capture in RI… hope she shares them