5.29.2011

dimland radio 5-28-11 show notes


Weather And Yard Work

I started out griping about the limited time I've had to do any yard work, because it has been raining nearly every weekend thus far this late spring. I also went on about how I hate summer and about needing to get the AC window units in soon.

The Rapture That Didn't Happen Follow-Up

Harold Camping, officially nutty as a fruitcake.

Well, the Rapture did not come off the way nutjob Harold Camping predicted. It doesn't appear that anyone has been taken up the heaven and dead bo
dies aren't strewn all over the place. Not to worry, wacko Harold Camping is telling us the 10/21/11 is still the day the great and powerful Oz will destroy the world.

"The great and powerful Oz will destroy the world on Oct. 21st! I mean it this time! Honestly. Really, I mean it."

There's a website dedicated to cataloging the numerous predictions of world destruction that have been made over the centuries. Click here to see how many times people have got it wrong.


Click here to read about the harm of such predictions that ca
n be done by crazy people like Harold Camping. Not only have there been people who have quit their jobs and spent their savings, in this one case a teenaged girl killed herself rather than face the supposed Rapture.

For more on what harm can be done by these nonsense beliefs check out this website.

4 Minutes And 33 Seconds Of Pretentious BS

This is art?

A FaceBook friend posted this link to a YouTube video of a full orchestra "playing" a piece by composer John Cage. It is the kind of pretentious nonsense that only upper middle class and higher could think was worthy art. That led me to talk about how the more abstract the art the deeper the BS needs to be to explain why it's art.

I talked about Simon Schama's series Power Of Art. The eight episode show featured Schama focusing on a single piece of art by eight different artists. The final show was all about an artist named Mark Rothko and a painting he did called Black On Maroon. I like the stuff Rothko does, but I have a very difficult time understanding the art of his work.

It's a Rothko, but is it art? Well, yes, but you'll need a critic to tell you why.

Perhaps I'm just too thick.

Ding Dong The Oprah's Gone

Pseudoscience is good ratings!

No, she's not dead. (I wouldn't celebrate that.) But her daily program is finally going off the air. I think the show will still be in repeats until September, but no more new shows are being produced. Former recipient of the JREF Pigasus award, Oprah has done more than her share of promoting pseudoscience, medical quakery and the paranormal. It will be good to have that aspect of her show gone. Now we just need to get Montel, Maury, Dr. Oz, etc. to
clear out.

I'm not the only one who thinks this way, this blog writer agrees with me. And she's really a doctor!


Logical Fallacies: Anecdotal Evidence

Inspired by the skeptical podcasts, Skeptoid and Skeptic's Guide to the Universe, I'm doing a series defining logical fallacies. This week's logical fallacy is "anecdotal evidence." I'm continuing to use those two sites so that we might learn how to recognize those mistakes made by all of us.

You can learn more from Skeptoid and the Skeptic's Guide to the Universe.


Meet The New Duck, Same As The Old Duck

"Ben Affleck!"

As you may recall, comedian Gilbert Gottfried, the voice the Aflac duck for many years, had been fired when he tweeted insensitive
(and funny) remarks about the Japanese tsunami. So Aflac put out the call for a new voice for their duck. After an extensive search they found a fellow in Minnesota who sounds exactly like Gilbert Gottfried. What was the point?

Click here for more.


Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ram' by The Yoleus
First ad break bumpers: 'Remote Control' by Red Guitars & 'Know Your Rights' by The Clash
Second ad break bumpers: 'New Dreams' by Naked Raygun & 'Waiting' by The Suburbs
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

5.22.2011

dimland radio 5-21-11 show notes


I thought this was going to be my last show, that the Rapture would put an end to the world and my internet radio career, but the Rapture didn't happen. The show goes on...

New Opening Theme Song: Ram by The Yoleus

The Yoleus

Not wanting to have issues from using a song I didn't have permission or licensing to use, I asked a friend if I could use a song by his band for my show theme. He said it was ok with him, so this show was the first show using his band's song, 'Ram.'

Learn more about The Yoleus here.

A Tale Of A Comic Book Collector Part 2

My copies ain't worth enough to retire on.

I followed up on last week's talk about the big money sale of an issue of The Incredible Hulk #181 by letting my listeners know I won't be retiring anytime soon on the sale of the three copies I own. The combined potential value of my three copies is
$575 to $625, it bit short of the $150,000 that that one copy sold for. Oh, well.

MN Twins Great Harmon Killebrew Dies

Harmon Killebrew: Swinging for the fences

I turned to the world of baseball's loss of the great Harmon Killebrew. He was a great slugger and a terrific guy. A fan favorite not only for his ability to hit home runs, but also for his soft-spoken graciousness, his love of the game, and his generous treatment of the fans. He will be missed.

You can read Killebrew's obituary here.


Is the hitter shown in the official MLB logo Harmon Killebrew? Maybe.

Is that Harmon?

I looked into the rumor of Harmon being the model for the MLB logo. Harmon says it is, the designer of the logo says it's not. However, the designer, Jerry Dior, can't remember which players' photographs he used in designing the logo.

So, is it Harmon? Maybe, maybe not.

Read more here and here.

It's The End Of World As We... No, It's Not

Money not well spent.

How could I not talk about The Rapture? Crazy person, Harold Camping, said The Rapture was supposed to begin on May 21. That all who have died would be piled up all over and all those who were saved would be taken up to Heaven.

"Dude! You can totally see up that girl's skirt! Thank you, God!"

Well, it didn't happen. Surprise, surprise.

I also talked about a dumbass who spent $140,000 to post signs to warn of our impending doom. What a maroon!

Meet The Skeptics!

My friend and fellow skeptic, Chris Brown, finally interviews a skeptic I can really relate to... ME!

Check it out here.

Movie Recommendation: The Natural (1984)

The Natural is my favorite baseball movie. It's a fairytale of baseball, the kind of idealized version of the game fans dream of. It suffers slightly from having the then in his late 40s Robert Redford play his character at age 18 or so. It's very hard to buy Redford being that young. Still the movie is very enjoyable.

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ram' by The Yoleus
First ad break bumpers: 'Disenchanted' by The Church & 'This World Over' by XTC
Second ad break bumpers: 'North Country Girl' by Pete Townshend & 'Insect Mother' by Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians
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

5.15.2011

dimland radio 5-14-11 show notes


A Tale Of A Comic Book Collector

I have three copies of this one!

I geeked out on this show, letting myself talk about collecting comic books. I talked specifically about one particular comic book, The Incredible Hulk #181 (Nov. 1974). The reason for talking about this comic book was because I had read that it had recently sold for $150,000! I have three copies of this issue. Alas, none are in as near as good condition as that high buck getting book.

The reason for it's high value? The Incredible Hulk #181 happens to be the first full issue appearance of the highly popular character Wolverine. But 150Gs seems a bit excessive no matter how good its condition.

Read more about the big time sale here.


A Few Observations On Harry Potter

I continued waving my geek flag by talking about the Harry Potter books and movies. I really, really, really like them, so indulged myself by making these observations:

First, the most heroic character? Severus Snape.

Second, after the last book of the series (Deathly Hallows) was relea
sed J K Rowling announced that Professor Dumbledore was gay. Ok, so what? However, I made the point that I thought that Gary Oldman very subtly played the character of Sirius Black as though he was gay. It could just be me, but I got the impression that in the fifth film (The Order Of The Phoenix) Sirius had been in love (unrequitedly) with Harry's father, James Potter. I could be wrong, but that's what I think.

Lastly, I wondered just how much regular education these young witches and wizards received prior to enrolling at Hogwarts. I'm fairly certain that Hogwarts doesn't teach any readin', 'ritin', or 'rithmetic. Maybe the magic in the students gets them through all that.


Movie Recommendation: Harry Potter And... ANY Of Them

Hint, hint.

Any of the seven films will be very entertaining, but if you don't know the story at all watch from the beginning (The Sorcerer's Stone) because the subsequent films assume you have been watching from the first one on.

Of the films released thus far I'd say my favorite is the sixth film (The Half Blood Prince). I'm really looking forward to the final installment which will be released this July.


Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ahead' by Wire
First ad break bumpers: 'Gardening At Night' by REM & 'Rock The Casbah' by The Clash
Second ad break bumpers: 'Spirits In The Material World' by The Police & 'Burning From The Inside' by Bauhaus
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

5.08.2011

dimland radio 5-7-11 show notes

Birthers Are Becoming Deathers


He's not dead! He's been dead for years! Where's the death certificate? Show us the body!

Yet again I sent time talking about conspiracy theorists. This time from the angle of their difficulties accepting that Osama bin Laden is dead. Life j
ust isn't complete for them without some deep conspiracy.

World renown skeptic: Michael Shermer

Here are several links to read more about it. Here, here, and here. I also talked about Michael Shermer's blog relating his encounter with conspiracy theorist, Jesse
Ventura, which you can read here.

Jesse Ventura back in the days when he could be taken seriously.


Finally, I talked about the lack of a need for a conspiracy theory surrounding John Hinckley's assassination attempt of Pres. Reagan. People seem to have no problem accepting the "lone nut" gunman for Reagan, but need a vast conspiracy when it comes to JFK. However, I did find these sites suggesting there was indeed a conspiracy in the Hinckley affair. You can check here, here, and here.

Just gotta love the internets. It's so full of nonsense.

Braco The Gazer

Be careful! Gazing at this picture may cause healing overload.

Speaking of nonsense. You gotta admire a guy who can up with this scam. He doesn't claim to heal people (but his handlers, website, and those who believe in him do). He just looks at people and his magical gaze puts everything right. Sure, it does.


You can read Karen Stollznow's piece about this "miracle" gazer here.


Movie Recommendation: Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987)


It's a classic and you've probably seen it, but it's so good you should watch it again.

My son, Hayden, watched it for the first time just this past week. Since, my son is not yet 8 years-old, my wife and I had to mute the infamous (and very funny) scene with Steve Martin's character throwing an F-bomb laden tirade at a car rental customer service person. However, we were unable to mute the two or three A-bombs and S-bombs that occurred elsewhere in the film. Oh, well, they're just words.

Hayden also saw for the first time this week ET The Extraterrestrial and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Look at that, my boy is catching up on the classics!


Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ahead' by Wire
First ad break bumpers: 'Lonely Is (As Lonely Does)' by The dBs & 'Chance' by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Second ad break bumpers: '1999' by Prince & 'Sixty Second Interval' by The Vapors
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

5.01.2011

dimland radio 4-30-11 show notes

A Couple Observations Of The Royal Wedding

I talked about how my wife, who got up early to watch the event, looked away, just for a second, and missed the kiss on the Buckingham Palace balcony. I was generally bemused by the event and its media coverage. Bemused until the replay on PBS preempted a show I wanted to watch, that is.

Birthers! Birthers! Birthers!

Pres. Obama released the long called for by birthers his long form birth certificate. Did that satisfy the birthers. What do you think?

Read more here.

It's Not True: Nostradamus Predicted 9/11

Nostradamus - predictor of nothing

The internets is full of hoaxes, misinformation and BS. One example is Nostradamus' supposed prediction of the 9/11 attacks. There is a set of Nostradamus quatrains (vague and fairly pointless non-predictions) seems to absolutely predict the 9/11 attacks. Only problem is that that particular quatrain wasn't written by Nostradamus.

Read more here.

Crazy Religious People

I gave my views on Pope John Paul II heading toward being made a saint. A saint?? Really?

I also talked about a man being on death row for 18 years for a crime he didn't commit. When justice is finally done and he is released, he thanks God and thinks, "God is good." But I again wonder why thank God? God allowed all the bad stuff to happen to the guy (not to mention allowing the people he was supposed to have murdered to be murdered) and cool his heels for 18 years before showing how "good" he was.

Read about Pope John Paul II here and about God's goodness here.


A Joke

I told a joke that I heard in the first of my two movie recommendations. Yes, two!

Movie Recommendation: The Aristocrats (2005)

This documentary may not be for everyone, but if you can handle hearing the must disgusting, vile, obscene, horrific and hilarious joke ever as told by many of today's best comics, this is the doc for you.

Movie Recommendation II: Band of Brothers (2001)

Ok, it may not actually be a movie, but it is an excellent HBO series based on true events. This WWII dramatization follows Easy Company from basic training to D-Day to the Battle of the Bulge to victory in Europe. Taut, gripping, well acted and written. Well worth watching.

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ahead' by Wire
First ad break bumpers: 'Something Against You' by Pixies & 'Uniforms (Corp E'Spirit)' by Pete Townshend
Second ad break bumpers: 'Hungry Like The Wolf' by Duran Duran & 'Love Like Blood' by Killing Joke
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