I was a little concerned beforehand, partly because the ticket sales, and postal delivery was not hmm perfect, and partly because I was going alone to a conference, where I only knew some of the speakers, and none of the delegates.

The event itself was almost perfect, Richard Wiseman was a perfect MC and most of the speakers were fun and/or interesting. The Saturday entertainment was very fun indeed, in a suitably cerebral fashion.

The biggest problem was the venue. It wasn’t geared for 500+ delegates, with standing only meals.

There’s also

As for the TAM itself, I’m totally speechless … all I can say is thanks to everyone involve in making it an unforgettable experience

I’ll be very bummed if there isn’t another TAM London next year (in a much bigger place!)

One more comment that I heard a couple of times was around the format- most meetings of this type will have breakout sessions. TAM London did not- all of the sessions were held in one large hall. I always feel like I’m missing something, and I heard several others express the same sentiment. I kind of liked not having to choose between sessions. I’m interested in reading other commenters’ views on this.

Much thanks to Tracy King and the JREF and Randi for magically appearing, and all the speakers, and of course you Phil, let me just say I now own the dorkiest picture of us two and I’m darn proud of it.

Sigh. I was in nerd heaven this weekend.

Hit for 6.

a. Either of two points in the orbit of a celestial body where the body is in opposition to or in conjunction with the sun.
b. Either of two points in the orbit of the moon when the moon lies in a straight line with the sun and Earth.

Everyone else, go search YouTube for “tim minchin storm”. It’s a bit of a strawman, but funny as hell.

…, um, no, that’s not it either.

[So "Rockets against Rocks", huh? What would we do without such alliterations?]

you used the word syzygy

“Syzygy

A technical mathematical object defined in terms of a polynomial ring of n variables over a field k. Syzygies occur in tensors at rank 5, 7, 8, and all higher ranks, and play a role in restricting the number of independent isotropic tensors. [Wolfram MathWorld]”

“syzygy syz·y·gy (sĭz’ə-jē)
n.

1.

The association of gregarine protozoa end-to-end or in lateral pairing without sexual fusion.
2.

The pairing of chromosomes in meiosis. [dictionary.com Medical Dictionary]”

Oh, I have so to remember what it means in some contexts. :-/

[And "lateral pairing without sexual fusion" is oddly revolting too.]

In fact (to use an Americanism), this ball was hit way out of the park.

Can our British friends perhaps provide an appropriately equivalent metaphor alluding to cricket?

~David D.G.