So now that we're holding the largest atheist convention in history, the Reason Rally in Washington, 03/24/12, I would like to recognize D.P.R.'s tireless efforts promoting rational skepticism and the values of the atheist community on a global scale.  Let's bring D.P.R. to D.C., not as a speaker or panelist, but as simply as someone who really should be there at least as much as any of the rest of us. 

And here is why:  Later that weekend, I want D.P.R. to host the Magic Sandwich show at the normal time on the usual day, but on-location at the national convention of American Atheists at the North Mariott Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland.  I want to do the show with a live audience of respected luminaries for a 3rd time, but this time with D.P.R. in the same room as regular co-hosts, C0nc0rdance, Thunderf00t, and myself, AronRa.  

Yeah, I know there's more important things we could be doing, etc etc.  I just want to do something nice for someone who's earned it.  Between the hotel for the weekend, and the flight in from Nottingham, England, we're looking at more than $1,000.00.  I'm committed to get him to that convention even if I have to pay for his ticket myself, but that is more than I can comfortably spend on anyone outside my own family.  If I can raise even half that much, I'll be happy, so I'm asking D.P.R.'s other friends here and elsewhere to chipin.

D.P.R. Jones is an English barrister and the regular host of the Magic Sandwich Show, formerly known as the League of Reason, a bi-weekly live call-in podcast dealing with matters relevant to the irreligious and those who feel oppressed by the Religious Right.  But that is not what he best known for. 

As one of the 'YouTube atheists', dprjones began by helping to protect fellow 'tubers from web harrassment of various types.  More importantly, D.P.R. Jones coordinated an annual BlogTV charity event in support of Medecins Sans Frontieres, (also known as 'Doctors without Borders'.)  His unique committment raised over $100,000.00 for M.S.F. over the last three years -with no portion of that withheld for any reason. 

But more than that, his annual charity has gone beyond YouTube, and unified the world-wide atheist community in a sort of cyber convention of celebrated skeptics gathered for a common cause.  Matt Dillahunty, James Randi, Michael Shermer, Eugenie Scott, A.C. Grayling, Laurence Krauss, Matthew Chapman, and Neil deGrasse Tyson (among many others) contributed thier own time online in a global collaborative skypathon -coordinated entirely by D.P.R. Jones alone.  But he receives no funding for himself.  He gets no financial support from anyone for any of his voluntary charitable efforts -despite how he has brought us together. 

Help me bring dprjones to the Reason Rally