OK, I will use a counter-guilt tactic. If you are only going for the public talk, and it's only half an hour, why waste the gas and prep time getting ready, driving to the Kingdumb Hell, and sitting there for only a half hour? Better to just skip the whole thing.
Oh! Oh! I know the answer to this one! Me! Me! Me! [Waves out-stretched hand wildly]
FOR APPEARANCES!!!