Showing posts with label global warming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label global warming. Show all posts

4.27.2019

dimland radio 4-27-19 show notes


A Friend Of Z Talk And Dimland Radio Has Been Lost



He was known as Homey in the chat room at Z Talk Radio. He was a semi-regular visitor going way back. Homey was dropping by less frequently in recent years, but when he did pop into chat he was always a welcome sight.

His name was Jimmy Holmes and he died sometime in the last couple weeks. I'm not exactly sure when or what it was that took his life. I was stunned when I learned of his dying.

Z Talk Radio and Dimland Radio have lost a friend. Homey will be missed. 

Is Exxon/Mobil Admitting To Being Part Of The Problem? 

Global climate change is real. It's happening and it is likely to have dire consequences. It's also mainly due to human activity. All that pumping of CO2 in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution is taking its toll and humans need to get behind efforts to reverse the trends and fix the damage.

But there's been a lot of foot dragging in part due to people not understand the importance and the urgency. Too many think it's not that big of a problem. They think there is a debate among scientists. They think the science isn't settled.

A big part of the reason for the foot dragging is the misinformation campaign fostered by the oil industry. They have been muddying the waters and giving the public and politicians a way the justify not taking my aggressive action.

But then I saw this ad:
CO2 is the main greenhouse gas that is causing the problem. Most of the CO2 in the atmosphere is the result of burning fossil fuels. Capture it would be helpful. Exxon/Mobil seems to be admitting fossil fuel (you know, the thing they produce) is the problem. They do so without mentioning climate change, but they seem to be admitting they are part of the problem.

Don't they?

It's Not True: Urine Is Sterile

I believed this one. Lots of people do, even doctors.

But there is bacteria in urine. It seems to be a recent realization, but it has been learned that you don't have to have a bladder infection to have non-sterile urine. The human body is filled with bacteria, good and bad. And there is bacteria in urine.

Learn more here and here.
Measles Is Making A Comeback In America! 

UCLA and Cal Sate LA have both put a number of staff and students in quarantine due to their possible exposure to measles via students with the should-be-gone-by-now disease.

Dimland Radio wishes to extend a hardy (and sarcastic) Well Done! to all the anti-vaxxers out there. You have done your job well.

"This Is Jordan, We Do What We Like..."

Those are the opening words of '80s post-punk band Big Black's song Jordan, Minnesota. It's a disturbing song about the rash of child sexual abuse accusations that beset that small rural Minnesota town beginning in 1983.

Similar accusations were being made all over America in those days. Daycare providers, parents, teachers, even members of law enforcement were being accused of taking part in child sex rings, meting out all kinds of sexual abuse to children as young as 2 months old.

Children were taken from their parents, parents and others were charged, put on trial, and some were imprisoned.

Authorities believed even the most outrageous tales of physical and sexual abuse, and even ritualistic murder. Fear was fomented, towns were put on edge, lives were ruined. And songs like Big Black's were recorded. However, it turned out there were no child sex rings. 

Jordan became national news. People Magazine published an early account of the horrifying claims. It gives an excellent insight into the fear that gripped the nation. The New York Times and the Chicago Tribune both wrote about the allegations: here and here

MPR interviewed the author Richard Beck whose book 'We Believe The Children: A Moral Panic in the 1980s' explains the events of Jordan and other similar incidents all over America in the '80s. He found that there was no there there.

One Cool Thing

We had a medical doctor in the family. He was my great grandfather Dr. Walter Fitzsimmons. He used to teach at the University of Minnesota. Below is photograph of him (on the far right) and a few of his students. And a cadaver.


It's pretty cool!
 

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ram' by The Yoleus 
First ad break bumpers: 'Independence Day' by Urban Guerrillas & 'Dirty Mind' by Prince
Second ad break bumpers: 'Once In A Lifetime' by Talking Heads & 'New World Man' by Rush
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

Please subscribe on iTunes! Just search for Dimland Radio in the podcast section. And if you could leave a good rating and a positive review it would be awesome.

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.

Images used under Fair Use.

12.19.2016

dimland radio 12-17-16 show notes

Dimland Radio Science Zero: Anthony Scaramucci

Not only did I give this fellow Science Zero status and made a bad joke about his name, I kept getting the pronunciation of his last name goofed up. Sorry.

Also, his being named a Science Zero got more complicated than when I first decided to give him the dishonor. Trump transition team advisor, Anthony Scaramucci was on CNN being interviewed by Chris Cuomo, son of former New York governor Mario Cuomo...

Tangent!

Before I got any further on Scaramucci, I went on a bit of a rant about Mario Cuomo and his appearance in Ken Burns' Baseball. I love that documentary series, both it's original nine parts (innings) and the follow-up: The Tenth Inning. My rant had to do with how doleful and dower Cuomo sounds when he talks. I'm sure he was a decent man and that he loved baseball, but his demeanor can't help but suck the air out of the room whenever he shows up in Burns history of the greatest game ever created.

And Cuomo loves the bunt. Nobody loves the bunt.

I couldn't find a clip from the baseball documentary, but here is one of him talking about his imagining of his mother's experience with immigration when coming to America:
Maybe it's just me, but it just doesn't seem the man is capable of experiencing joy. How did the people of New York elect him?

And a correction: I mentioned his statement about America not doing community well. I was rather miffed at that. Perhaps that's why I mistakenly included 9/11 as one of his examples of a crisis in which America does community better.

9/11 hadn't happened yet when the documentary was released. My mistake.

Back To The Show Before The Rant Started

Bad Astronomer Phil Plait blogged about Scaramucci's interview. Dr Plait laid out a good case for Trump's advisor to be a Dimland Radio Science Zero. Well, not specifically that. Dr Plait has no idea Dimland Radio exists, which may change now that it is available on iTunes. (Please subscribe!)

Scaramucci is not a scientist. He does acknowledge that, while he casts doubt on the vast majority of climate scientists when they say global climate change is real and human caused. He states that scientists have been wrong before. He brings up the mistaken beliefs that the earth was flat and the center of the universe. Cuomo, to his credit, responded, "It's called ignorance. You learn over time."

But Scaramucci stuck to his guns. And, in the video link on the Bad Astronomy blog, he states that, "people have gotten things wrong throughout the 5,500-year history of our planet." Well, right there, that nails his listing as a Dimland Radio Science Zero. The other statements on their own would get him there, but being a young-earther was a fine button on that bow.

Hold the phone! The video Dr. Plait shared was cut short by someone who may have wanted Scaramucci to look even more ridiculous. It cut immediately after the 5,500-year history of earth comment. But, the full length video of the interview went just a little bit longer and it captured his correcting himself. He quickly added, "...human history, I should say."

So, that makes him not necessarily a young-earther. After all, they believe the earth to be 6,000 or, maybe, 10,000 years old. Phil, to his credit, updated his blog once he became aware that the clip he shared was edited and misleading.

Anthony Scaramucci still is a Dimland Radio Science Zero. Just not as ignorant as I first thought.

Compelling Video Of A Russian Blobsquatch
 

I talked about the most famous film footage of an alleged bigfoot: the Patterson/Gimlin film. You may not know it by name, but you will very likely recognize its iconic images of "bigfoot" crossing a clearing in the woods of California and nonchalantly looking back over its shoulder at the cameraman. Since that 1967 footage made its way into the public consciousness, people have been attempting to get even better images.

It's been nearly 50 years and just about everyone has a camera, but still no video or film of the elusive, hairy giant has come close.

Well, maybe finally...

Recently, I was listening to a local talk radio show host mention some new bigfoot video that was spreading across the internet. This footage came from Russia. A dashcam captured the image of something crossing a snow covered country road at night. The two Russians in the vehicle were rather excited sounding when witnessing the creature's crossing. The show host said the video wasn't fuzzy.

Well, I had better check it out!

Was I convinced?

I'll put it this way: Congratulations Patterson/Gimlin film! You're still the best footage of an alleged bigfoot. Even if, as evidence, your images are inconclusive at best.

The radio station's link and an enhanced look with some skeptical commentary.

Movie Recommendation: None


I ran out of time, so you are on your own. Boy, this may be three weeks in a row. I will definitely try to get a recommendation in the next show. I'll try. No promises.

And you'll have to wait until my New Year's Eve show. I won't be doing a show for Saturday, 12/24.

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ram' by The Yoleus 
First ad break bumpers: 'Tantalized' by The Church & 'Death Of The European' by The Three Johns
Second ad break bumpers: 'I Want The One I Can't Have' by The Smiths & 'Me And Sarah Jane' by Genesis
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
Please subscribe on iTunes! Just search for Dimland Radio in the podcast section. And if you could leave a good rating and a positive review it would be awesome.

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.

3.25.2012

dimland radio 3-24-12 show notes


Even Me

Yep, even your humble host, Mr. Skeptic, can get caught by a scammer. I told two stories of encounters I've had with scammers. One much more recent, in which I don't really do any damage. The another tale took place many years ago and I was out a few bucks, but learned a lesson.

It's Not True: Daylight Savings Adds To Global Warming

I read a letter to the editor written to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in 2007. I spotted the letter on my Facebook. The initial thought people (myself included) were having was how could someone be so stupid to think how we set our clocks has anything to do with global warming. However, the letter was real, but it was mean as satire.

Learn about it at snopes.com
.

George Hrab Portrait

My portrait of the super George Hrab

Then I told the story of how awesome George Hrab is, because he generously assisted me in doing a portrait of him. You know, I like to do portraits and I could do one for you. I charge $250 for an 8" x 10" B/W. Interested? Email me at drdim@dimland.com.

Patrick Burns And Some Possible Poltergeist Activity

A Facebook friend posted a video by Patrick Burns that purports to show poltergeist activity. An orange moves...slightly. Mr. Burns wasn't sure why it moved, but I gave my take on it.

You can watch the video here.


Hunger Games

In an example of just how out of touch I am, I admitted knowing nothing about Hunger Games until I saw Elizabeth Banks on Craig Ferguson's show last week.

Movie Recommendation: American Graffiti (1973)

(Universal Pictures)

I finally saw this excellent movie in its entirety just this past week. An ensemble cast of mostly unknown (at the time) actors have a "bitchin'" night of cruising in their "boss" cars. It's a heart-felt depiction of an innocence American would soon be losing, but not on that night.

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: 'Running On The Spot' by The Jam & 'U Got The Look' by Prince
Second ad break bumpers: 'Intruder' by Peter Gabriel & 'A Fire Burns' by The Church
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.

7.06.2007

today's most vital issue

Hey, Kids!
I'm sure you've all heard about the 7/7/07 worldwide concert event, Live Earth. I just wanted to remind you how vitally important this event is. Live Earth is addressing THE issue of our times!
Yes, Live Earth will awaken the world to the fact the it is vital that the United States ELECT AL GORE AS PRESIDENT IN 2008!
Be there as Al Gore kicks off his campaign for the presidency in 2008. Move over Obama and Clinton, a real leader has arrived.
Vote Gore '08! After all, it is today's most vital issue.