I have mentioned Phil in a number of posts here.  He is an astronomer of international note, has one of the most successful and well-read blogs in the scientific arena, has published a fun book on science (with another on the way in October), is a sought-after speaker on debunking such hot items as the moon landing hoax, and has just accepted a high honor in the area of Critical Thinking.

A major part of Phil's blog is about aspects of critical thinking (CT).  CT is all about making decisions for yourself on issues through what you know and what research you can dig up without just buying into what you are told.  The moon landings were not a hoax, and Phil can cite proof, which the naysayers haven't done and can't do.  He is a big believer in reality, and he likes it the way it is.

Phil is a registered skeptic.  He doesn't take anyone's word for much of anything until he sees either conclusive evidence or enough evidence to prove something as a scientific theory.  I won't get into the definition of "scientific theory" here.  That's a whole discussion on it's own.

Anyway, the Head Skeptic (capitalization intended) is a man named James Randi, and he holds annual conferences on CT.  I hope to attend the next one.  Randi, as he seems to prefer to be called, has been debunking psychics, hoaxers (Uri Geller comes to mind), astrology, and other non-scientific hoohaw that affects people's lives and pocketbooks.  He has an educational foundation (JREF - the James Randi Educational Foundation) that sponsors education for kids, as well as a lot of other things.  Among those things is Randi's challenge to all those who believe in the paranormal.   "At JREF, we offer a one-million-dollar prize to anyone who can show, under proper observing conditions, evidence of any paranormal, supernatural, or occult power or event."

Having said all that, Phil has been named the President of JREF!  He will be working alongside Randi to further the cause.  I am sooooo proud of him!

So, add his new title to Phil's list of accomplishments.  He will be here in Atlanta for Dragon*Con, where I will get to view some of the "backstage goings-on" and meet a bunch of his friends, including, I hope, Mr. Randi.