Tom Kaye will NOT be at LL

[AGD]

All,

I am sorry but I can't make Living Legends this year. I know you guys are really planning a blow out and it should be lots of fun.

I can't go because I have been invited by the Chinese government and the national head of paleontology to come over there and study the world famous feathered dinosaurs. See this link for pictures DINOS (https://www.google.com/search?q=feathered+dinosaurs&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=nSNWU7HWM4f4yAGL5IDgAw&sqi=2&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAw&biw=1920&bih=938) They are even paying for my trip. This is a HUGE deal for me and the pinnacle of my work in paleontology. Very few professional paleontologists are invited these days because they rightfully want their own scientists to make the discoveries and publish on them.

I have developed a method of using lasers to stimulate fluorescence in fossil bones to make them glow when no other method would. This allows us to see things that are normally hidden. Think of how fluorescing blood stains makes a crime scene suddenly show up even if it has been washed off. I taught a graduate student the technique weeks before she went over to China to study one of the fossil birds. She illuminated a slab that just had bones on it and much to everyone's surprise, the foot pads AND the scales individually fluoresced and suddenly became visible! This was the first time soft tissues like that were discovered in the fossil bird Confuciusornis. We are currently submitting a paper on the discovery to a major scientific journal. If you want to learn more about it you can look over this poster from a few years ago that describes some of what I do. http://tomkaye.com/images/MicroRaptorMysteryZ_lrg.jpg

Once the paleontologists over there saw the results one thing lead to another so I am packing up my lasers and heading half way around the world. I have to leave right at LL so that's why I can't make it. I plan on blogging about it on my facebook page so stand by for TK's globetrotting adventures!

Thanks!

Tom

[dboggs79]

Congrats Tom!

[BTAutoMag]

I all sad and happy for you at the same time

[jaywmustang]

Congrats

[BigEvil]

Kinda sucks for us but better pack a few extra spoons and forks :)

[TeamBob]

And this is why TK is the most interesting man in the world...

[jame4091]

Congratulations!

[Andrum85]

Congrats, china is a very interesting country , I visited there last year

[Dayspring]

While we'll miss having you there, this is an incredible opportunity! Take lots of pictures (if you can)!

[Billz804]

Very cool stuff.

[splat15k]

Very cool stuff.

Indeed!

Congratulations, Tom; this is an amazing opportunity!

[ScottyBeans]

have a good time over there!

[DarkApollo]

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/48852372.jpg

[Flatliner333]

My 10 yr old son has recently become obsessed with Dinosaurs, Spielberg, Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. I can't wait to tell him about your upcoming adventure. This will be as cool as having the chance to meet you at LLVII. Congratulations...

[cockerpunk]

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/48852372.jpg

pretty much.

congrats tom, your life, and the things you do ... just amazing.

i still owe you lunch, next time, next time.

[DevilMan]

WOW!!! Congrats Tom!!! Take it easy, have fun, and post up pics... It's fine that you are missing LL... ;)

DM

[luke]

That's mind blowing, what gave you the idea for this, or what lead to it?

[Justus]

Okay, when we demanded you be at LL7 or give us a really good excuse, we didn't have something quite this big this in mind, lol! This is huge, I'm happy for you TK. I'll have to meet you some other time.

[Nobody]

we will hoist a Diet Coke in your honor then. enjoy a once in a lifetime trip, we will be doing the same old paintball game, where you are looking at soft tissue for the first time...

[Premium Trevor]

So cool. Enjoy the trip.

[Tunaman]

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/48852372.jpg
Now that is some funny stuff right there! Good luck Tom!

[TyeStick]

Tom, this is friggin' awesome! I mean, not the fact that you're missing 'LL' but that you've been invited by the Chinese government and the national head of paleontology! Take lots of pictures, and have fun!

[SeeK]

You have to shoot video of someone seeing something that hasn't been seen for a hundred million years for the first time.
http://dinosaurs.findthebest.com/l/339/Confuciusornis

[vintage]

i'm sure your trip will be much better than when I was sent over for work in 08. small industrial town in middle of no where, probably the most boring 3 weeks I've spent anywhere.

it is definitely an interesting country to visit but I wont be volunteering to go back anytime soon.

good luck and enjoy, just watch what you eat!

[RT Lover]

All,

I am sorry but I can't make Living Legends this year. I know you guys are really planning a blow out and it should be lots of fun.

whats a few more days they have been bones how long???? how about some autographed pictures i was really hoping to meet the man!!! But best of luck on your dino venture!!

[going_home]

Maybe Tunaball next year ?

;)

[Frizzle Fry]

Lazers + Dinosaurs > Paintball

Have fun!

[Bunny]

Sounds like a blast. I can't wait to see the updates about it.

Btw, I can't wait to explain to people why you couldn't attend the event. It shouldn't surprise anyone at all, but you never know.... :p

[Beemer]

Ahh sooo Grasshopper.

Confucius say, "when you go to China, you future soon to be enlightened with laser's".

Can you say TB8 May 2015. You know you want to. TunaMan will be there, and we need to review and discuss your DB Cooper story from TB7, its got questions that need answered.

Be safe and enjoy your adventure in China.

[Bunny]

Any updates on this? Some people don't have facebook accounts. Whatever that means... :p

[Dayspring]

Any updates on this? Some people don't have facebook accounts. Whatever that means... :p

He hasn't posted anything on Facebook - either he's REALLY busy, or they won't let him on a computer with Facebook...

[blackdeath1k]

Ok somehow I totally missed this post in April.

Tom. That is flat cool.

[BTAutoMag]

He did post a picture of him holding the laser on Facebook, go check it out.

[Flatliner333]

^^^this^^^

[AGD]

Well I planned to blog the trip on Facebook but as it turns out FB is blocked in the entire country along with dropbox, parts of google and others. The internet is really shaky here and its hit or miss if you can even get on. I am in the real China, not tourist China. A small town in Shandong with 40,000 people.

This place is off-the-hook crazy. Roster heads and feet in your chicken soup, Y intersections with no stoplights or stop signs, you just plow into oncoming traffic, the 5 star hotel turns off the AC at 9:30pm and not a hamburger to be had in the whole city. No one and I mean no one is fat here. They are building 20 story apartment buildings in clusters with only enough parking for like 30 cars. 10 years ago no one had cars, just bikes and electric motor scooters. Drop 10,000 cars in a town with no cops and no infrastructure and imagine what it would be like. Kids on the back of scooters hang on to dad and mom like a backpack.

The real China is certainly not like what you see on TV. The people are friendly, no one talks politics, there are no suburbs with single family homes and the farmers have no machinery.

Thank god for America, land of excess, evil corporations and rampant capitalism. I will take it all over this alternative.

TK

[The Ritual]

Wow. Thank you for the insight into another world. I wonder how they deal with road rage.

"Signs? Signs?! We don't need no stinking signs!"

[SeeK]

I forgot to warn you to set up a VPN back to your home so you could use the connection in the US.

Did you get to experience a real chinese toilet? For those that don't know, it's a hole in the floor. The nicer ones are porcelain lined holes in the floor.

[Swiss Cheeze]

lol one thing to knock off your bucket list. experience real chinese toilet.

[AGD]

Yep tried to use the "hole in the floor" but none of the three stalls had any toilet paper. Took pics and had to leave with no relief. Thankfully the hotel had normal toilets.

TK

[Menace_AO]

I forgot to warn you to set up a VPN back to your home so you could use the connection in the US.

Did you get to experience a real chinese toilet? For those that don't know, it's a hole in the floor. The nicer ones are porcelain lined holes in the floor.

The nicest have nifty foot blocks for your comfort and convenience. Hopefully you are enjoying the food more than the traffic and latrines. :)

In any case, safe journeys there and back again.

[blackdeath1k]

Wow! I cant wait for his full un censored report on this trip.

Then again. As dignified and business oriented as TK is. I doubt he ever posts that report.

[BTAutoMag]

Travel rule #1.... Also carry a roll of toilet paper

[bowcycle]

the TP was the kettle of water off to the side. You eat with your right hand and wipe/wash with the left.

It's very similar in Africa.

[ElPanda]

the TP was the kettle of water off to the side. You eat with your right hand and wipe/wash with the left.

It's very similar in Africa.
I thought it was the other way around

[yellowmitten]

Yep tried to use the "hole in the floor" but none of the three stalls had any toilet paper. Took pics and had to leave with no relief. Thankfully the hotel had normal toilets.

TK

I guess you didn't see the shelf with 3 clam shells on it.

[blackdeath1k]

I guess you didn't see the shelf with 3 clam shells on it.

That's demolition man. Not real life..... I think?

[yellowmitten]

That's demolition man. Not real life..... I think?

Correct :P

[bowcycle]

I thought it was the other way around

please don't eat out of my food dish...:eek:

[SeeK]

Or shake my hand.

[Dayspring]

So - how was the trip? Are you still in China or are you back stateside?

[snoopay700]

Somehow missed this thread. Congrats Tom, let us know all about the trip when you get back. You never cease to amaze me with the things you do.