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.

dimland radio 9-10-16 show notes

Marriage After Death?

Last week I talked about Gene Wilder dying and how some people were so happy he's been reunited with his third wife, Gilda Radner, who had preceded him in death. But what about his widow, Karen Boyer? She was married to him for 25 years, while Gilda was his wife for only five. I wondered how Karen felt about the whole Gene's back with Gilda speculations.

 

On Saturday's show I talked about how marriage might work after you die, assuming there really is an afterlife. Sure, the vows say until death do the couple part, but then why do people say Gene is back with Gilda? She died. Marriage over, right? If so, stop saying couples separated by death are then reunited by death after both spouses have died. But if death isn't the end of a marriage, then the couple is married for all eternity? Wouldn't that be hell?

Suppose married couples are reunited in the afterlife, how is it handled? So, Gene is back with Gilda now, but what happens when Karen dies? Is he married to both Gilda and Karen? For all eternity? Isn't that bigamy? Wouldn't that be hell?

 

Suppose the afterlife's caretaker doesn't accept divorce to be the end of marriage, so when Gene's ex-wives die he's still married to them. And suppose those ex-wives have had other spouses. Are all those people still spouses? For all eternity? Wouldn't that be hell?

 

But suppose the only marriage that counts is the first one. Whether it ended in death or divorce, it's the official marriage for all eternity...

 

You see how complicated this all is?

 

It's much simpler from an atheist perspective: You die. You're dead. You're done. No marriage. No second marriage. No bigamy. No polygamy. No Honey-Do lists. No consciousness. No awareness. No pain. No joy. No nothing. Game over. Dead.

Some On The Left Sure Like To Hate

I guess it's just human nature to take pleasure in the death or public shaming of people who are thought to be vile, mean, and otherwise irredeemable. Such is the case with Phyllis Schlafly and Ann Coulter. Both women are (or were in Schlafly's case) outspoken in their right wing political and social views. They both spout ideas that can get very upsetting to those at the opposite end of the political spectrum. So, of course, some of the folks on the Left view these two with a certain amount of disdain.

 

Schlafly died last week and Coulter was the butt of many of the cruel and nasty jokes that are expected at celebrity roasts. These two events brought such joy to some of my friends on the Left. Posting memes stating, "Ding dong, the witch is dead" for Schlafly and edited video clips of Coulter getting roasted.

 

The Left seems to pride itself on being caring and compassionate. To them it's the Right that are mean and selfish. The Left frowns upon sexist, racially or ethnically insensitive, gay-bashing or trans-bashing jokes. Except when hurled at the Right.

 

I pointed that out by sarcastically stating how it warms my heart when I see the compassionate, caring Left indulge in their hatred of those with whom they disagree.

ARGH!: No Turn Signal In A Roundabout

 

Roundabouts have been replacing the old four way stop intersections in the Twin Cities lately. And some people don't understand they need to signal their turn off the roundabout. It helps people who want to merge unto the circular intersection know the intent of the driver moving along the circle.

 

But a skeptical friend reminded me that driver's shouldn't trust a turn signal. Well, he has a point. I guess I'm doomed.

 

9/11 Still Not An Inside Job

 

It's that time of year again. Time for all the 9/11 Truthers to demonstrate they remain irrational when it comes to the attacks of that day in 2001. The conspiracy get more and more complex and convoluted as they attempt to maintain the notion the towers were not felled by Islamic terrorists.

 

I don't have the energy go through it all again. However, I spotted an excellent piece on Esquire's online site explaining the errors made by the conspiracy types out there on the internets. I covers the biggest point and some smaller ones.

 

JAQing Off

 

Listeners were shocked when they heard me start talking about what sounds like a very private activity. But, no, I was referring to " JAQing Off", which is what skeptics call it when people ask question, but don't accept the answers if they are not the answers they want. Joe Rogan, a comedian, JAQed off Phil Plait, an astronomer, about whether or not we landed men on the moon.

 

JAQing off is a subset of the Gish Gallop. Click here to learn more about JAQing off and here to learn about the Gish Gallop.

The N-Word

 

I advertised this as being a controversial show, because of the whole roundabout ARGH! moment. But there was plenty of other controversial stuff including talking about the n-word. I talked about its origin and how commonly it was used in America not all that long ago.

 

I won't get into it here, but go to this link. You'll learn the word's history and will be appalled how accepted racist views were by mainstream America. It was just matter of fact. So wrong.

 

Movie Recommendation: None

 

I didn't get to one this week. You are on your own.

 

Music heard on the show...
 

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ram' by The Yoleus 
First ad break bumpers: 'Fight For Love' by 54-40 & 'All That I Wanted' by Belfegore

Second ad break bumpers: 'Seven Seas' by Echo & the Bunnymen & 'Twist' by Tones On Tail

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 2-8-14 show notes

An Announcement

Nothing so dramatic, but Loud City will be shutting down. Z Talk Radio had worked with Loud City to distribute our shows. Our shows will go on (goon?), but our ability to play music shows will be going away. We can still play independent artists who aren't signed to a major label.

 

I don't what to do the work to support independent artists. Well, it may not be that much wok, but I will not be doing music shows anymore after this month. Next week I will be doing a three hour music show, so get some sleep so you can stay up and boogie. Or just listen.

The Human Species Isn't All That Bad

I hadn't been aware of this phenomenon until fairly recently and I was very impressed and encouraged when I did find out about it. It's the reviews of unusual or very mundane products offered on Amazon.com. I don't know how long this has been going on, but people have been writing very funny, very clever reviews and Amazon has been leaving them up.

I featured three such products.  Please read the reviews for:

Tuscan Whole Milk, 1 Gallon, 128 fl. oz
Hutzler 571 Banana Slicer

How To Avoid Huge Ships

Science Vs Not Science

The highly anticipated "debate" between Bill Nye The Science Guy and Ken Ham The Not Science Guy over evolution/creation took place last Tuesday. I have not yet watched the debate, but my hubris was enough that I talked about it anyway. Actually, I talked more about the reaction to the debate, both from before and after it.

Many science-minded skeptics and scientists thought it was a bad idea for Bill to do it, but there are others who think that this sort of confrontation should be done. Ken Ham may never change his mind, but someone else listening in just might.

I have lots of links on this one:

 

Rebecca Watson's don't do it take.

Hemant Mehta's advice to Bill Nye.
Steve Shive's post debate review.

Here is the debate. (You'll need fast forward 13 and a half minutes.)

Phil Plait's blog review of the debate.
Daniel Loxton's blog on Carl Sagan's take on such debates.

I think that's enough links on this topic.

22 Messages

 

Buzzfeed.com featured 22 messages from creationists to people who believe in evolution (believe is the wrong word, accept is better). I gave my responses, but here are Phil Plait's. His are better.

And, to balance things out, Buzzfeed.com also feature 22 messages from evolution believers to creationists. I responded to those as well. So far, Phil hasn't.

 

Movie Recommendation: Capote (2005)

 

United Artists

 

"Ashton Kutcher survives." Those probably weren't the last words of Philip Seymour Hoffman, but nevertheless it is true, he does still live.

The great actor died this past week and I figured I should recommend one of his best performances out of a vast catalog of great performances. So, 'Capote' it is. Hoffman was awarded the Oscar for his portrayal of writer Truman Capote as he was researching the murder of a Kansas farming family for his non-fiction novel, 'In Cold Blood'.

It's a very good movie and a great performance. But it's hard to find a bad performance by Philip Seymour Hoffman.

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ram' by The Yoleus

First ad break bumpers: 'Monkeys' by Echo & the Bunnymen & 'Maddox Table' by 10,000 Maniacs
Second ad break bumpers: 'Age Of Consent' by New Order & 'Los Angeles' by X
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 2-23-13 show notes

I Am Not A Doctor

I started off stating that I really am not a doctor.  Really.  I'm not.

I also took a shot at other doctors who have Phds, but aren't medical doctors.  I'm not one of those either.  I mentioned Dr. OZ, who is a medical doctor, but he does so much anti-science medicine stuff that maybe he shouldn't be considered a doctor.  And then there's the father of the anti-vax movement, Andrew Wakefield, who isn't a doctor anymore.

 

Space Might Be Attacking Us

The asteroid and the booming meteor over Russia might make you thinking we're being attacked, but we really aren't.  I reviewed some of the recent space invading events that took place just recently and at what seemed to be at the same time.

It's neat stuff, but space really isn't attacking us.  Phil Plait, the Bad Astronomer, wrote about the awesomeness here.

 

Something else I learned from the event: Russia's pop music is just as crappy as ours.

 

Ten Minute Topic With Chris Brown

Chris and I talked some politics and statistics.  Chris referred us to the book 'The Drunkard's Walk', which sure sounds like an interesting read.  I'll be putting it of my reading list.
 

We also mentioned NECSS and Nate Silver.

 
The Movie Hobo

I have been made an admin for the Facebook page The Movie Hobo.  The Movie Hobo is a group page of movie enthusiasts making various comment about our favorite entertainment medium.  I encouraged my listeners (all four of them from last night) to like that page.

And would it hurt you to find Dimland Radio's Facebook fan page and give it a like?

The Good Life

 

The star of the British television series 'The Good Life' died recently.  His name was Richard Briers and he played Tom Good on that very popular (in the UK anyway) show.

I took that opportunity to talk about that show, which is my all-time favorite sit-com.  Not because it is the funniest , but it has become like comfort food for me.  I just like the characters so much.

 

You might as well.  In fact, I made 'The Good Life' my movie recommendation.  I know!  It's not a movie, but it is available on Netflix  and it's only 30 episodes, so it's really worth watching.

Movie Recommendation: None This Week Again (See Above)

Yep, you're on your own again this week, but 'The Good Life' is a good suggestion.

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: 'Big Brother Muscle' by The Screaming Blue Messiahs & 'Cooks County' by The Who
Second ad break bumpers: 'Like It Or Not' by Genesis & 'No More Lonely Nights' by Paul McCartney
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 8-11-12 show notes

Sex Talk And Losing My Train Of Thought

Prior to my going on the air, I caught a little of the replay of another Z Talk show, Hot & Bothered.  Joe and Stacy and their guest were talking sex.  It was a little more than I could handle.
Then something popped into my head to talk about.  It had to do with my son's hobby of searching Google images and how once we found some nudie shots of some woman.  But that wasn't what popped into my head.  I actually lost my train of thought and couldn't think of what had sent me on a tangent.

 

I remember now, but I'll make you wait until next Saturday.

 

A Tale Of A Mini Vacation

Amy, Hayden, and I went camping last weekend.  That's why I didn't do a show last Saturday.  I told the story of the trip.  We went to Split Rock Lighthouse State Park to camp and took in a few local sites.  I spoke of the Split Rock Lighthouse, Lake Superior, hauling in camping equipment, swimming in Lake Superior, star-gazing, an overnight thunder storm, humming birds, bats, muskrat, Gooseberry Falls, a C-130 Hercules aircraft, skipping stones, roasted marshmellows, and so much more.

Sick Not Seek

Having been outraged by the way the news readings were pronouncing Sikh, the religious sect that is an offshoot of Islam and had recently been thrust in the news due to a mass killing event, as "sick" and not "seek."  I had heard it as "seek" all my life, until Friday morning.  Apparently, the proper way to say it is "sick."

Read about how to say Sikh here.

Images From Mars

Curiosity, the Mars rover, landed on the Red Planet recently and some cool pictures have been coming back from it.  And, from what I understand, even more awesome pictures are on the way.  Pictures from the surface of another planet!  So cool!

 

I also talked about an image depicting Earth, Venus, and Jupiter in the Martian sky.  I had shared the image on my Facebook page and an FB friend burst that bubble by posting a link to Phil Plait's blog exposing image as a fake.

Well, I get can caught, too.  Here's the Bad Astronomer's explanation of the image.

 

Movie Recommendation: Paths Of Glory (1957)

 

Bryna Productions

 

Directed by Stanley Kubrick and starring Kirk Douglas, this anti-war film beautifully depicts the futility and insanity of war.  Ordered on an impossible mission during WW1, Douglas is forced to defend three of his men on charges of cowardice for failing to take the too well defended German position.  An excellent film!

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: 'Go' by The Replacements & 'Entre Nous' by Rush
Second ad break bumpers: 'Reel Around The Fountain' by The Smiths & 'Keep Looking' by Sade
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 7-9-11 show notes

I Have My Doctorate! Sort Of

Thanks to Thunderwood College I have a doctorate now. It was easy! And free! Brian Dunning of Skeptoid.com has set up a diploma mill. So, go and get your diploma. Sure, it's not worth the paper it's printed on, but so what?

An Early Life Of Crime

The toy I pulled some shenanigans to get

I confessed a few of my youthful indiscretions. I switched price tags on a Shogun Warrior toy. I switched a book I could legally buy as a youth with a naughty book that I couldn't. And I broke into a friend's house to retrieve my Ghost of Capt. Kidd action figure. Shame on me.

Here's a blog I wrote about the Ghost of Capt. Kidd toy.

I Was Stunned By Dr. Dawkins This Week And So Were Many Other People

Richard Dawkins and Rebecca Watson

After a brief sidetrack about the gravestone for Uncle Ben in the Spider-man movie, I related an interesting controversy in the skeptic/atheist community this past week. Skepchick Rebecca Watson mentioned being made uncomfortable about being hit on by a stranger in an elevator at 4am. She didn't make a big deal about it, but Richard Dawkins did.

Dr. Dawkins jumped into a comment thread on PZ Myers' site and sarcastically belittled Rebecca complaint. Richard was being a dick and didn't get it. Judging by the many, many comments on several blogs, many people did get it.

This should make for an interesting TAM 9 this coming weekend.

Links galore for this one. Phil Plait's, PZ Myers', Rebecca Watson's. Rebecca's original video post in which she mentions the elevator incident is here.

In A Better Place? Really?

On the local news tonight was a story of a young woman who was found murdered at the side of a nearby highway. The report featured two of the woman's friends placing a memorial near the site where her body was found. An ex-boyfriend is suspected in the murder. One of the friends said she is "in a better place."

A better place?! Is she suggesting that the ex-boyfriend (allegedly) did the victim a favor? Well, of course she wasn't. Still, I made my observations as to the situations where the "better place" statement would work more properly.

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ram' by The Yoleus
First ad break bumpers: 'Seconds' by U2 & 'Epic' by Faith No More
Second ad break bumpers: 'Inside A Fireball' by Hunters & Collectors & 'Relax' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood
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