Dimland Radio

dimland radio 4-20-13

It’s Happened Again

Yet again our country is stunned by a senseless act of terror against innocent bystanders. This past Monday, during the Boston Marathon, two bombs went off killing three spectators and wounding more than 170 others.

As I recorded this show, the suspects were still at large. Thanks to the efforts of the Boston Police, the Watertown Police, the FBI, and one very courageous citizen, one suspect has be apprehended and another has been killed. Unfortunately, one police officer has been killed during the process of bringing the evildoers to justice.

I echoed Craig Ferguson’s sentiment as he commented about the US and the world being subjected to this senseless violence yet again. I stated, again, that I have no answers, no magic solution to this kind of insanity.

I mentioned two people who have helped me keep from giving up on humanity: Patton Oswalt and Mister Rogers. Patton posted a message of defiance and hope, noting that those who are good in this world will always outnumber those who commit these acts of evil.

Mister Rogers, although he died several years ago, he nonetheless has left us with comforting words to help us through these moments of inexplicable violence. I cannot express just how much I miss Fred Rogers.

And just as an aside, you will note that neither Patton nor Mister Rogers invoke a god. I don’t mean to stir anything up here, just pointing out it is possible to give comfort and hope to others without invoking the supernatural.

Alex Jones Is An Extraordinary Piece Of Human Garbage

I suppose I should try to be understanding toward Alex Jones due to what is likely his suffering some kind of mental illness. I’ll try, but it ain’t easy when his sick mind sees deep and dangerous conspiracies behind every event, especially tragic ones.

The smoke from the bombs had hardly cleared before this slimeball took to the Twitterverse to suggest our government was somehow behind this madness. He seems to believe every event is a “false flag” meant to further some evil agenda.

It’s a good thing I don’t believe in hell, because if it did exist I’d wish for a special place in it for scum like Alex Jones.

Never Found In The 80s: Let’s Active

Another in my guest blog series on the Stuck in the 80s blog. This time I posted about the Never Found in the 80s artist Let’s Active. I featured their not a hit song Every Word Means No. It’s a bit of alternative pop that should have found a larger audience.

Most Unfortunate News

More sad news, although much less tragic than the bombings, from this past Monday (April 15th). It was on that day, Brian Dunning ended his long battle against charges of wire fraud. Brian plead guilty as part of a plea bargain of which we have no details.

This is very unfortunate, because Brian is such a luminary in the skeptical movement. His podcast, Skeptoid, and his vodcast, In Fact…, have been helping to spread critical thought for many years. But because of this legal action, he will now have the taint of being a convicted felon. This gives him something in common with scumbags like Sylvia Browne and Kevin Trudeau, who, in my opinion, do nothing but leech of human gullibility and fear.

I’m told by a reliable source that Brian is making an effort to ensure that Skeptoid will continue should he be sentenced to prison time. At this time, it seems likely he will be going to prison.

Such a shame.

Dimland Radio Science Heroes

Fortunately, I was able to uplift the show’s spirits, if you will, by announcing three more Dimland Radio Science Heroes: The Tampa Bay Times, Tim Nickens, and Dan Ruth.

They were awarded a Pulitzer Prize for their editorial series on the anti-fluoride activities in Florida. A city council in the Sunshine State had been successful in getting the fluoride out of their municipal water. This is a bad thing. Fluoride is a benefit to us in its ability to help prevent tooth decay, especially in children.

But there are those who erroneously fear that the chemical is cancer-causing or is some kind of mind control. Well, Dimland Radio’s Science Heroes helped to right the wrong and get the fluoride back in the water.

Movie Recommendation: None This Week

I wanted to have time to dedicate a song to Martin Richard, the eight year-old killed in the Boston Marathon bombing. An image of Martin has been making its way around the internet. In what is now an example of sad irony, the photo shows Martin holding a placard he had made asking for peace and “no more hurting people.”

I played Pete Townshend’s Stop Hurting People in honor of Martin and the others who lost life or limb in this past Monday’s act of senseless violence. You had to be listening Saturday, as that was the only way you could hear the song. I cannot include it in the download of the show.

Peace.

Music heard on the show (Whenever Possible, I Will Link To The Song)…

Dimland Radio opening theme song: ‘Ram’ by The Yoleus

First ad break bumpers: ‘Buck Hill‘ by The Replacements & ‘Every Word Means No‘ by Let’s Active
Second ad break bumpers: ‘This Wheel’s On Fire‘ by Siouxsie & the Banshees & ‘Why Did I Fall For That‘ by The Who
Closing song: ‘Angler’s Treble Hook’ by $5 Fiddle

That’s it! See you next Saturday night for Dimland Radio 11 Central, midnight Eastern on www.ztalkradio.com you can also download my show from the z talk show archives page. You can email your questions and comments to drdim@dimland.com

You can also go to my CafePress store and buy stuff with my artwork on it and have me do a portrait for you if you like. Find out more here and here.

dimland radio 4-13-13 show notes

Star Stuff

One tough little girl!

I was commissioned to do a portrait of one tough, little girl. She’s been dealing with a bad ticker and set of lungs since before she was born. I finished the portrait some weeks ago, but it wasn’t until earlier this week that it finally arrived at its destination.

The mother let me know that she had received the portrait and she was quite surprised (I was commissioned by a third party) and very happy with it.

See? An atheist can have a heart.

A Hard Spring

It’s been quite a week for my wife and fellow ZTalkers Jenny and Scotty. All of whom have ended up in the hospital. My wife had emergency gall bladder removal, Jenny had a kidney infection, and Scotty was leaking spinal fluid.

I couldn’t help but make the observation that it was science-based medicine that pulled them all through. Not chiropractors, not hand waving, not prayers, just actual medicine.

Never Found In The 80s: Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians

Another in my guest blog series of musical artists Never Found in the 80s for the Stuck in the 80s blog. This entry is the great Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians. I picked their excellently bizarre The Man With The Lightbulb Head.

You can read my piece here.

My First Skeptical Conference

What do PZ Myers, Hemant Mehta, Greta Christina, Zach Weinersmith, JT Ebehard, and Tim Farley all have in common? They were all seen by yours truly at the first ever SkepTech conference in Minneapolis. They each gave interesting and enlightening talks.

It was the first such conference I’ve ever attended. It was very enjoyable and it was free. And free fits right into my budget.

Movie Recommendation: The Hudsucker Proxy (1994)

Warner Bros/Universal Studios

One of the Coen brothers unjustifiably overlooked films. It’s very funny and it is the second film recommendation in a row in which Paul Newman plays a significant role. It also stars Tim Robbins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Charles Durning. It’s available on disk at Netflix, so please stop overlooking this terrific movie.

Music heard on the show (Whenever Possible, I Will Link To The Song)…

Dimland Radio opening theme song: ‘Ram’ by The Yoleus

First ad break bumpers: ‘Who Dunnit‘ by Genesis & ‘The Man With The Lightbulb Head‘ by Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians
Second ad break bumpers: ‘Homebreakers‘ by The Style Council & ‘All That I Wanted‘ by Belfegore
Closing song: ‘Angler’s Treble Hook’ by $5 Fiddle

You can also go to my CafePress store and buy stuff with my artwork on it and have me do a portrait for you if you like. Find out more here and here.

dimland radio 4-6-13 show notes

Roger Ebert Has Died

Well, now there really will never be a Siskel & Ebert reunion. Of course, we knew that because Gene Siskel died long ago and once you’re dead you’re dead.

So, now Roger Ebert has also died. That’s a bummer. I talked about being a long time watcher of the best movie review show ever and how I stayed loyal through Gene’s death, Richard Roeper replacing Gene, Roger’s illness and his subsequent leaving the show, and Roeper’s leaving the show. But, when the show’s producers decided to change the format that had worked so well, I stopped watching.

Pedantic Moment: “Everybody’s Talking About…”

The phrase “everybody’s talking about” is a bit of hyperbole that’s bugged me for a long time. Sure, we know it’s a gross exaggeration, but it still gets under my skin and I finally got around to talking about it.

Dimland Radio’s Look At Sports

The sports injury the everybody is talking about! Kevin Ware of the Louisville Cardinals college basketball team broke his leg on national television last Sunday. It was during the “Elite Eight” game between Louisville and the Duke Blue Devils and it was horrific!

Although Hayden (my son) and I were watching the game, we didn’t see the injury as it happened, but I did see the replay. Holy crap! That was nasty!

The injury was almost identical to the broken leg Joe Theismann suffered in 1985 as quarterback for the Washington Redskins. The injury made it Joe’s last game.

I talked about the difference in how network TV handled showing the leg break in 1985 compared to today. And I talked about how my dad enjoyed my squeamishness about Joe’s injury and how dear old Dad liked to trick me into watching the replay.

Never Found In The 80s: Big Black

My second installment of my guest blog series of musical artists that never found a mainstream audience in the 80s. This time I wrote about the Chicago band Big Black, a very edgy and angry band that was too edgy and angry to get near the American Billboard charts.

You can read my piece here.

JREF’s 2013 Pigasus Awards

It has been my tradition to talk about the Pigasus Awards each year and this year was no exception. You can find the list here.

Your Eyes Can Deceive You, Don’t Trust Them

Old Ben Kenobi knew what he was talking about a long time ago in a galaxy… You know the rest.

There’s a video of dancing girls wearing half white and half black and as they dance your eyes play tricks on you. Watch the video and remember that it was taken with good lighting. Imagine what tricks your eyes will play on you when you are in the dark, wandering around looking for ghosts.

Movie Recommendation: Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid (1969)

20th Century Fox

A classic Western of which even my son approves. It’s funny and adventurous. And it has a terrific chase sequence that rolls out over several minutes with the two train robbers trying to shake a group of trackers who just won’t go away. “Who are those guys?”

It stars Paul Newman and Robert Redford as Butch and Sundance and was directed by George Roy Hill. The movie also features Katharine Ross, Strother Martin and Ted Cassidy and has the BJ Thomas hit song ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’ by Burt Bacharach and Hal David.

Hayden and I highly recommend this movie.

Music heard on the show (Whenever Possible, I Will Link To The Song)…

Dimland Radio opening theme song: ‘Ram’ by The Yoleus

First ad break bumpers: ‘Spy World‘ by Wall Of Voodoo & ‘Kerosene‘ by Big Black
Second ad break bumpers: ‘Strange Thing‘ by Buzzcocks & ‘Love Song‘ by The Cure
Closing song: ‘Angler’s Treble Hook’ by $5 Fiddle

You can also go to my CafePress store and buy stuff with my artwork on it and have me do a portrait for you if you like. Find out more here and here.

dimland radio 3-30-13 show notes

For Pity’s Sake! Again With The Replacements?!

Yes, but I kept it quick. I meant to say it last week, but I forgot. I would have posted a photo of the original line-up of The Replacements instead of the one that was chosen for my first installment of my Never Found in the 80s guest blog at Stuck in the 80s.

There, enough is enough.

Dimland Radio Science Hero: Tory Shepherd

Fluoride in the water benefits us. It’s not a tool for the government to control our minds. Journalist Tory Shepherd knows that and wrote this piece to admonish those in the Australian government who are spreading misinformation and fear. That makes her a Dimland Radio science hero. Yay!

Television Commercial Round Up

A few ads to comment on, because they bug me or I thought it could be funnier. Warning! I sing. Sort of.

What Skeptics Deal With

I posted a link on my Facebook page to a 20/20 piece done by John Stossel in which he exposes the snake oil salesman Kevin Trudeau as a liar and money-grubbing vulture. The first comment on my posting was by a troubled woman who believes that prescription drugs nearly killed her several times and that John Stossel takes bribes to skew his reports.

Two fellow skeptics and I pressed her to back up her accusations. She pretty much told us to do our research and the truth is out there. She did give us a documentary to watch and books to read, but she wouldn’t tell us why those resources should be trusted. She wouldn’t tell why Stossel and the FDA shouldn’t be trusted.

We skeptics were respectful, but we wanted her to back up her assertions. She called us lemmings and suggested we were lazy. She told us she didn’t have the time to waste and then unfriended me.

Movie Recommendation: Quadrophenia: Can You See The Real Me? (2012)

BBC 4

This is a BBC 4 documentary about the best album The Who had ever produced and quite possibly the greatest piece of musical art ever made. You can watch it for nothing on the YouTube. Ain’t life great?

Music heard on the show (Whenever Possible, I Will Link To The Song)…

Dimland Radio opening theme song: ‘Ram’ by The Yoleus

First ad break bumpers: ‘Tape Your Wife To The Ceiling‘ by The Suburbs & ‘Somebody Put Something In My Drink‘ by The Ramones
Second ad break bumpers: ‘Rapture‘ by Blondie ‘Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)‘ by Eurythmics
Closing song: ‘Angler’s Treble Hook’ by $5 Fiddle

You can also go to my CafePress store and buy stuff with my artwork on it and have me do a portrait for you if you like. Find out more here and here.

dimland radio 3-23-13 show notes

What? Again?

Finally, my guest bloggery at Stuck In The 80s has begun. I just wanted to point that out that the picture of the artist I’ve been mentioning on the show for the last few weeks that appears on the blog is of the later line up, not the original. But I sidetracked myself and forgot to mention it.

Whoops? Again?

Yes, I made a mistake. I did mention this is last week’s show notes. I mistakenly referred to the 2012 World War II movie about African American fighter pilots as being titled Red Wings. It was Red Tails. Whoops.

Pedantic Moment? Again?

This ain’t the way it looked in the ad!

Well, a different moment, but, yes, again with the Pedantic Moment. This one was about the deceptive depiction of the KFC Family Bucket. Always shown to be overflowing the lid of the bucket in the ads, but never that way in reality. This was something I noticed when I was just a mere child. I guess this whole details thing started early for me.

The Death Of Duane Gish? Again?

Well, as far as I know he only died once. But he did die earlier this month. Gish was a bit of a stinker. He believed in creation and thought the theory of evolution was wrong. He debated often, but never swayed from his belief despite numerous scientists and skeptics showing him exactly what he was wrong about and why. No, Duane just Gish Galloped along.

Not anymore, though.

Dimland Radio’s Look At Sports? Again?

Ok, sometimes I talk about sports. This time I mentioned the NHL on NBCSports Facebook fan page trying to drum up a rivalry between the Detroit Red Wings and the Minnesota Wild. I don’t know if a rivalry exists between those two teams. Anyway, they asked fans to weigh in on which state, Minnesota or Michigan, was the better hockey state.

There were plenty of opinions. And good points were made by both sides. I weighed in on the side of Minnesota, of course. I pointed out the number of Minnesota players on the 1980 US Olympic gold medal-winning hockey team. Michigan had two players. Minnesota had 12.

Checkmate, Michigan!

Psychic News? Again?

Yep! This time it’s a story of how a psychic family was busted for scamming customers out of big money. Psychics? Scams? Tell me it isn’t true!

Read about them here.

My Son, The Atheist? Again?

Not sure how this is an again, but at the parent/teacher conference last week, our son’s teacher mentioned that Hayden had told the class he is an atheist. And they didn’t lynch him! That’s progress.

Movie Recommendation: Billy Budd (1962)

Allied Artists

Every now and then you put a movie in your Netflix queue thinking it might be interesting. Every now and then it’s an older movie that you don’t know much about, maybe you’ve only just heard of the title. Every now and then that movie turns out to be great! Billy Budd is just such a movie. I put it in the queue because Netflix thought we might like it and I thought it would be alright for my son.

It was a pleasant surprise. We’ll really enjoyed it. You might, too.

Music heard on the show (Whenever Possible, I Will Link To The Song)…

Dimland Radio opening theme song: ‘Ram’ by The Yoleus

First ad break bumpers: ‘Me And Sarah Jane‘ by Genesis & ‘Bikini Red‘ by The Screaming Blue Messiahs
Second ad break bumpers: ‘Sleepless‘ by King Crimson ‘Two Story House‘ by George Jones & Tammy Wynette
Closing song: ‘Angler’s Treble Hook’ by $5 Fiddle

You can also go to my CafePress store and buy stuff with my artwork on it and have me do a portrait for you if you like. Find out more here and here.