Sunday 24 February 2008

UK Pharyngulites unite!

Confirmed! Come one, come all to the London Pharyngula readers' meet-up on Saturday, 15 March, 7pm at the Doric Arch near Euston Station. When you get there, look for the Pharyngula embryo sign, right. Also, I will wear my Beagle Project t-shirt.

PZ Myers noticed something of "a strange phenomenon" (if you can still call social networking on the internet a strange phenomenon...) that began when Pharyngula readers in Boston organised a local pow-wow marked, of course, by squid. He thought (and I think) this is something worth propagating and so suggested we all get into it and start forming satellite Pharyngulite clubs all over the world.

Turns out there are lots of us here in the UK. As of 19:14 GMT on Sunday, the following had identified themselves in PZ's comment thread as habitating here:
  • Mark UK (Edinburgh)
  • Jonathan (Sheffield)
  • Didi (Norwich)
  • Peter Mc (Whitby)
  • mmghosh (Bristol)
  • Don (Tynedale)
  • Miss Prism (London)
  • Marc (London)
  • Maureen (Hebden Bridge)
  • oh, and me, nunatak (London)
  • You?
So, I thought I'd create a post to help us organise ourselves without having to wade through the hundreds of comments over at PZ's place.

If you are in the UK and interested in meeting up please leave a comment here. If people want to spin off and form sub-groups that's fine by me, everyone's welcome to do their own thing of course!

So, I think all that's left to say is: go forth into the Comment thread, all ye UK Pharyngulites, and self-organise!

40 comments:

Unknown said...

Great! Name a time and place, and I'll come along if I can make it.

Karen James said...

I am out of town 27/2-10/3 so I suggest either 15 or 22 March in London. Or, if we want to be more inclusive maybe we could meet in Cambridge or even a rail hub like Doncaster.

meloniesch said...

I'm another UK Pharyngulite. I live in Cambridge but can get to London.

Unknown said...

I am also a UK Pharyngulite! I am in Nottingham during term time, and Norwich during the uni holidays.

Julian Stirling said...

OK I used the wrong account just then.
Julian

mmghosh said...

Any Saturday is good for me...except the Easter weekend when I'm working

Unknown said...

Hello from London. I'm Lucy, a PZ fan for a couple of years now.
Any time or place in Londo nwould be good. Count me in.

Barbara Ann said...

Hey. I'm from London too, and I'd like to hang out with the cool kids anytime.

P.Artist said...

Hi...West london Pharyngulite here..who posts as Monkey's Uncle. London, one weekend , very possible! Will try to make it if a definite date is made, but will keep in touch through here anyway..great idea nunatak!

Graeme said...

Portsmouth based Pharyngula reader.... What was this about a giant squid private viewing?

mmghosh said...

Nunatak

Shall we say Saturday 15th March 7 p.m. in London, then - as the earliest we can all meet?

Name and address of pub please?

mumfie said...

Hi all! I live in London so would welcome the opportunity to join up.

15th March sounds good so far.

Dave Godfrey said...

I'm flexible, 15th of March sounds great to me.

Marc said...

I'll come on the 15th.

meloniesch said...

I could make the 15th of March. Anyone have ideas for a meeting place?

Karen James said...

Okay everyone, I think we are settled on the 15th of March at 7pm. Over at Pharyngula's comments Dave Godfrey had suggested the Doric Arch just ouside of Euston station:
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/12/122/Head_of_Steam_Doric_Arch_/Euston
I've updated the top of this post accordingly and left a comment at Pharyngula.

If people are keen to have group tour of the NHM squid we'd need to do it during opening hours, either the afternoon before the pub or some other day, and I'd need to check with the curator in charge first.

Unknown said...

Bother, I can't make it on the 15th, but I'll try to be at the next Pharyngulondoners' meeting.

(If anyone's going to the science blogging thing at the Regent Street Apple store tomorrow, maybe see you there though!)

Unknown said...

a London lurker here. Love the idea; sadly I'm out of the country this weekend!

Next time, maybe!

mmghosh said...

Two things - could nunatak please sort out - sorry to dump it on you but you seem to be the most organised

1. Is the meeting happening, especially in view of the rugby?
I'm in London anyway on the day, so its no sweat for me!

2. Are we doing the NHM squid visit? I'm pretty keen so please let me know where and when

Thanks!

Malcolm FCD said...

Will try really hard to be there. Big thank you for arranging!

Anonymous said...

Darn! Just found out about this... wont be able to make it this time. But let me know about future events. Have a good one!

Karen James said...

Thanks mmghosh for alerting us (or maybe just me) to the rugby match, which indeed seems likely to disrupt even the quietest corner of every pub in England on the 15th of March. A quick web search reveals that England v. Ireland kick off at 3pm. Dare we hope that the buffoonery will be mostly over by 7pm? I am loathe to reschedule now that the word is out. Can someone suggest an alternative venue nearby to which we can escape if Doric Arch proves too loud/crowded?

Unknown said...

Also a UK Pharyngulite, also a lurker, and alas also out of the country on the 15th.

mmghosh said...

Hi nunatak

We should still meet there, probably, seeing as it seems to be a reasonably central area.

As to the rugby, yeah, I guess the fireworks should be over by 7 pm, (especially since England are out of the running anyway...)

So we should be OK (I think and hope!) I'm sure another pub round the corner will be found.

Maybe you should post another reminder on the main blog?

And what about the NHM viewing? The rugby should have successfully emptied the NHM, hopefully.

artificialhabitat said...

Hello, another Pharyngulite here!

I'm based in Southampton, and I also have a few friends who follow Pharyngula!

I doubt we'll be able to make it up to London on the 15th, but hopefully at some point we'll be able to join in!

Have a pleasant evening.

Karen James said...

I think the squid viewing at the NHM should be a follow-up event. I'm running out of time to put it together and would want to give curators more warning...

stavros said...

I should be able to make it as well at 7pm on Saturday.

stavros

mmghosh said...

OK thats cool

We meet at the pub at 7 then

Cheers all and thanks for taking the trouble to set this up!

(Identification - could you make a placard -discreetly naff...something like a pharyngula stage embryo...we need a flag!)

Unknown said...

Hey, my name is Josh and I am a pharyngulite. I'm currently living and researching in Norwich.

Unknown said...

I'm also a huge PZ fan and currently live & research in Liverpool. I plan on being in London those days, so I'll keep an eye open for post regarding a confirmed meeting place & time!

Matt said...

oooh shame I'm Going to Miss this one, already booked on Saturday. Next time though.

Raul Landa said...

Another Pharyngula reader here. Unfortunately I'm on Cambridge the 15th... I am very interested on the squid follow up, though!

mmghosh said...

Could you bring a Beagle T-shirt for moi XXL please! How much do I bring?

Joe Dunckley said...

I may well come along. I don't post that much at Pharyngula, but you might know me from T.O., EvoWiki or cotch.net.

Karen James said...

Well, well, lucky me, I've come down with a cold that features a nasty, germ-spreading cough. I have a feeling that spending several hours shouting over rugby fans about atheism, evolution and whatnot is probably not going to speed my recovery. So, I'm going to have to pass. Urgh.

I look forward to hearing all about it here in comments after the hangovers dissipate.

Of course, this means someone else (mmghosh??) will have to print out the Pharyngula sign at the top of this post to facilitate rapid coalescence of Pharyngulites at the Doric Arch.

Also, I hope someone will bring their camera to document the event - I'd be very happy to post the photos on this blog after the fact.

Email to karen (at) thebeagleproject (dot) com

mmghosh, you can order a t-shirt here:
http://309032.spreadshirt.net/en/GB/Shop

mmghosh said...

Oh no, you do have to be there

I have a special cure for things like cold bugs etc!

I'll see what I can do about the printout.

Karen James said...

Hi everybody, I'm still hacking up greenish phlegm so... have a good time and send me pictures! karen (at) thebeagleproject (dot) com

Richard Carter, FCD said...

"Maureen (Hebden Bridge)"????

Very small town. Very small world!

-- Richard Carter, FCD (Hebden Bridge)

Richard Carter, FCD said...

...but where's this 'London' place you're all talking about?

Santhosh said...

Pharyngulites....

I would like to attend too..
When is the enxt one planned?
I live in London and any weekend is good.