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davo
1st August 2011, 02:46 PM
Can this Convention get any better? Yes it can. If you haven’t already made up your mind about attending this should do it for you.

We are absolutely thrilled to finally reveal the identities of our MC’s. Please give a welcome round of applause for Kylie Sturgess and Lawrence Leung. Yes, you heard it correctly.

Those of you who were at the 2010 GAC will understand why we asked Kylie if she would like to do it all again. As you can see by Kylie’s comment below we are indeed privileged to have her back.

“Being a Master of Ceremonies at the Atheist Foundation of Australia's convention is a wonderful opportunity to be a part of an important global effort. This is an event that encourages everyone who is intrigued by atheism to exchange ideas, collaborate, work towards building communities and learn. As an educator, an Australian and a woman, I am proud to see that the discussions and debates will continue in 2012.”

To have Lawrence Leung as a co-MC is awesome. No doubt Kylie will give him some tips so he isn’t too nervous!

Kylie Sturgess is an award-winning educator, writer and researcher, specialising in the study of paranormal beliefs. She is the founder of Token Skeptic, http://tokenskeptic.org/ the first solo-female skeptical podcast, which is dedicated to promoting critical thinking and science communication.

Kylie was a Master of Ceremonies for the Global Atheist Convention in 2010 and writes the ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’ column for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry website. http://www.csicop.org/specialarticles/archive/category/curiouser_and_curiouser

She has contributed to a number of publications, including The Guardian, The UK Skeptic, Skeptical Inquirer, and features in the 'Australian Book of Atheism'. In addition, she is a member of the James Randi Educational Foundation Education Advisory Panel, writes about superstitions on her site PodBlack Cat. http://podblack.com/

In 2011 Kylie was presented with the Secular Student Alliance Best Individual Activist Award for her activism independent of a university student group.

When not teaching high-school Philosophy, studying Psychology or volunteering at a science centre in Western Australia, Kylie travels world-wide delivering entertaining presentations on education, feminism, atheism and science.

Lawrence Leung is a writer and multi award-winning stand-up comedian. He is also the creator of the sceptically-enhanced comedy documentary series “Lawrence Leung’s Unbelievable” http://www.abc.net.au/tv/unbelievable/#/home (ABC1) and the AFI-nominated comedy TV series “Choose Your Own Adventure”. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/lawrence/#/begin

His live shows are based on his nerdy obsessions ranging from con artists, skepticism, jetpacks and Rubik’s Cubes. He has toured solo shows nationally and abroad including at London’s Soho Theatre, the Assembly Rooms (Edinburgh) and twice at the Sydney Opera House. He studied psychology at Melbourne University and is fascinated by deception, self-delusions and why people believe strange things. He has designed magic illusions for theatre shows and once solved a Rubik’s Cube in 49 seconds while skydiving. www.LawrenceLeung.com (http://www.lawrenceleung.com/)

http://www.atheistconvention.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/lawrence-leung.jpg

http://www.atheistconvention.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/kylie-sturgess.jpg

Bolero
1st August 2011, 02:50 PM
Oh freaking hell! Awesome!!

two dogs
1st August 2011, 02:52 PM
Woot! Woohoo! Yeehaa! :D

Voltairine
1st August 2011, 02:55 PM
Can this Convention get any better? Yes it can. If you haven’t already made up your mind about attending this should do it for you.


"...haven't already made up your mind"! What utter tosh!

Come on, own up. Who hasn't already thought about which (or whose) kidney/first-born to sell so you can attend GAC 2012? :p;):D


3-2-1. And I'm back...

Great additions to the line-up!

Worldslaziestbusker
1st August 2011, 03:06 PM
Ah, Monday GAC announcements: like the first day of summer in text form.

Praxis
1st August 2011, 03:28 PM
Seriously. It really does get betterer and betterer.

I was hoping Lawrence might be announced as a speaker but learning he will be an MC along with our darling podblack means we will get to see a lot of him!

I know we shouldn't wish time away but damn, April 2012 can't come quick enough for me :D

kazzaqld
1st August 2011, 03:30 PM
Very nice - good on you Kylie for doing it again! And Lawrence, very cool.

djarm67
1st August 2011, 03:45 PM
Fantastic! That Kylie chick is awesomely hot Wolty!

djarm67
1st August 2011, 04:07 PM
Fantastic! That Kylie chick is awesomely hot Wolty! Damn no bites.

OK

How about this?

Fantastic! That Lawrence dude IS awesomely hot Annie.

Lord Blackadder
1st August 2011, 06:02 PM
Doing the happy dance! :)

And for Kylie, I will do the happy dance in... SPAAACE! :D

What an awesome emcee team - good coup, people-on-the-GAC-committee people!

AUSloth
1st August 2011, 06:11 PM
Excellent! I had wondered what would be considered as the opposite of a double face palm, this will do nicely.

Darwinsbulldog
1st August 2011, 06:15 PM
Woot! :):):)

djarm67
1st August 2011, 06:34 PM
Who haven't we got?

Lee
1st August 2011, 07:19 PM
Who haven't we got?

Is that a clever ploy trying to elicit information from the GAC Committee. :)
Good try ... but we are strong and will not be broken no matter what extremes of coaxing are used.

Xeno
1st August 2011, 07:22 PM
Is that a clever ploy trying to elicit information from the GAC Committee. :)
Good try ... but we are strong and will not be broken no matter what extremes of coaxing are used.
Psst, LBA, can you spare me a little of that chocolate please?

Lord Blackadder
1st August 2011, 07:37 PM
Psst, LBA, can you spare me a little of that chocolate please?

I'l have a look in my stash and see what I've got - do you think the GAC committee would prefere Haigh's or Koko Black?

Lee
1st August 2011, 07:40 PM
Psst, LBA, can you spare me a little of that chocolate please?

I'm afraid you won't lure me with chocolate. I'm not that much of a fan. I can't vouch for the others though. :p

Lord Blackadder
1st August 2011, 07:46 PM
I'm afraid you won't lure me with chocolate. I'm not that much of a fan.

Blasphemer!

I can't vouch for the others though. :p

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3206/3130509820_bf8b788cdd.jpg

Om nom nom.

wolty
1st August 2011, 07:49 PM
Fantastic! That Kylie chick is awesomely hot Wolty!

Dammit. Missed this.:-)
Kylie is great. Looking forward to it so much.

Lee
1st August 2011, 07:51 PM
Blasphemer!


Forgive me ... Does carob make up for my sin? :(

Lord Blackadder
1st August 2011, 07:54 PM
Carob is the false God. The true God is made of cacao beans and cocoa solids.

Lee
1st August 2011, 07:56 PM
Carob is the false God. The true God is made of cacao beans and cocoa solids.

Surely you could have used a better description than 'solids' LBA. :D

Xeno
1st August 2011, 08:22 PM
Surely you could have used a better description than 'solids' LBA. :D
Even when very dark, chocolate is, sadly, brown. However, unlike carob, it is chocolate. I rest my case.

Podblack
1st August 2011, 10:41 PM
:D You're not going to believe this, but a bar of chocolate is all I've had to eat all day after lots of running around doing errands and work! WAHOO FOR 2012!! :D Thanks everyone! :)

Logic please
1st August 2011, 11:07 PM
Noice news. :) Looking forward to it even more, knowing that the MC duties are in v.good hands. :)

Lord Blackadder
2nd August 2011, 06:44 AM
:D You're not going to believe this, but a bar of chocolate is all I've had to eat all day after lots of running around doing errands and work! WAHOO FOR 2012!! :D Thanks everyone! :)

Are you running errands in space?


Sent from my iPhone using magic technology thingy application thingy.

Podblack
2nd August 2011, 07:10 AM
Are you running errands in space?

Space. Trial. Puttin’ the system on trial. In space. Space system. On trial. Guilty. Of being in space! Going to space jail!

Worldslaziestbusker
2nd August 2011, 07:47 AM
mmmm Chocolate...

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ooFUY2yK7U/Ta7MnnFAyjI/AAAAAAAABow/rhZHNovs8_w/s1600/chocolate+jesus.jpg

I find that offensive. Anything less than 75 % cacao is apostasy. To Haighdes with you!

AUSloth
2nd August 2011, 07:55 AM
@Podblack
http://www.truebluefishing.com.au/images/mahi1.jpgWAHOO FOR 2012?

mmm..BBQ

Lord Blackadder
2nd August 2011, 08:55 AM
Space. Trial. Puttin’ the system on trial. In space. Space system. On trial. Guilty. Of being in space! Going to space jail!

Watch out for the space police!


Sent from my iPhone using magic technology thingy application thingy.

Praxis
2nd August 2011, 09:39 AM
That picture is almost enough to make me give up chocolate.

Absolutely repulsive :confused:

Voltairine
2nd August 2011, 09:53 AM
Praxis, any better?

http://engine.freedomltd.com/images/ideas/chocolate-man.jpg

Lord Blackadder
3rd August 2011, 02:15 PM
Overall, this is a triumph. I'm making a note here: Huge success! It is hard to overstate my satisfaction.


Sent from my iPhone using magic technology thingy application thingy.

djarm67
3rd August 2011, 02:47 PM
@Podblack
http://www.truebluefishing.com.au/images/mahi1.jpgWAHOO FOR 2012?

mmm..BBQ

That's a Mahi Mahi

Atheos
3rd August 2011, 03:02 PM
Peter Garret's name and alternative uses for him came into my head when I saw this,[probably have to make the appendage smaller though]

Does he have belly-button Lindt?
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8ooFUY2yK7U/Ta7MnnFAyjI/AAAAAAAABow/rhZHNovs8_w/s1600/chocolate+jesus.jpg