dimland radio 1-15-11 show notes

A Guest! George Hrab

The multi-talented George Hrab

My excitement was undeniable as I greeted my listeners, because I was going to play part one of my two part interview with musician/singer/songwriter/podcaster/raconteur/atheist/skeptic: George Hrab.

But First A Little Tale About Pink Eye

Pink eye ain't no fun!

But before I got rolling with the interview, I told everybody about my bout with pink eye. Pink eye! It is no fun, I can tell you. Happily, I am on the mend.

You can get info on pink eye here, if you really want to.

And Now, George Hrab Part 1

Much of part one of my interview of George Hrab centered on skepticism and atheism. We talked about the "power" of prayer and George gave his idea of how to better use the time spent praying. I gushed a bit, I couldn't help it. I'm a big fan of Geo's.

If you haven't heard his podcast, you should! Be warned Geo will use some profane language on his podcast, but you're an adult, you can handle it. You can download, for free, the Geologic Podcast from iTunes or you can go here to listen to it and see his show notes and even make a comment if you like.

Next week we'll talk about his music and his latest album Trebuchet.

Movie Recommendation: True Grit (2010)

My last movie recommendation was the original True Grit starring John Wayne. My wife and I had just watched the Coen brother's True Grit the afternoon before this edition of Dimland Radio. We really enjoyed it. The story is essentially the same, but the tone is much different. Jeff Bridges might just snag another Oscar for his performance. And Hailee Steinfeld as the 14 year-old Maddie Ross is terrific.

Go see this movie!

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ahead' by Wire
First ad break bumpers: 'Help Me Somebody' by Brian Eno/David Bryne & 'I Don't Believe In Christmas' by George Hrab
Second ad break bumpers: 'Fifties Stories' by George Hrab & 'You're the Wish You are I Had' by XTC
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

dimland radio 1-8-11 show notes

More books!

Skeptic and author, James Randi

Yep, I talked about three more books that I had picked up. All three were written by James Randi. My skeptical library is really beginning to fill up.

The three titles are:

The Truth About Uri Geller

The Mask of Nostradamus

An Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds, and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural

Ten Minute Topic with Chris Brown

Skeptic Chris Brown

This time Chris and I talked about the importance of have a bigger tent when it comes to the skeptical movement. Sometimes skeptical events are more accurately described as atheist events. But one need not be an atheist to be a skeptic.

You can find Chris Brown's blog and podcast, Meet The Skeptics, here.

An Atheist In Church

Impressive, is it not?

Harm Modder, a former St. Paul police officer, he retired from the force in 2000, died 12-28-2010. Harm attempted to get a t-shirt printing business going way back in 1988 and he hired me as his staff artist. He was the brother-in-law of Greg, my best friend in high school, and that was how I got my foot in the door. It was my first art job after I graduated art school and I've always bee grateful to Harm for the job.

The job didn't last long, but the experience was good.

So, when Greg told of Harm's passing, I made sure I attended the service. It was held at the Cathedral of St. Paul, a most impressive building. It was the first time I'd been to a Catholic mass in many years and also the first time since I'd become an atheist. I talked about the interesting experience.

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ahead' by Wire
First ad break bumpers: 'De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da ' by The Police & 'Head Over Heals' by The Go-Gos
Second ad break bumpers: 'Message Of Love' by The Pretenders & 'One Step Ahead' by Split Enz
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

dimland radio 1-1-11 show notes

Cold Open: Unintended

So I was off for several weeks. Yep, three weeks with no Dimland Radio! How did you get along? I explained I was off because I was a bit naughty in the chat room, not on my show. I said something really stupid in an attempt at a stream of consciousness joke thing. It wasn't funny nor was it well thought out. Z Talk felt that I should step down until the first of the year. So that's why I was gone.

Happy New Year!


I took the opportunity to reveal my yearly made (and kept!) resolution. Each year I resolve to live until the next year. So far I've kept that resolution.

I even delved into the world of acting as I considered the time when I will eventually break that resolution. Or, more accurately, the way I might be able keep the resolution, but then not make a new one. Oh, how dramatic it was.

Christmas & Atheists

George Hrab

I do celebrate Chritmas. But I keep mine secular. Another atheist who celebrates the day is George Hrab, musician/singer/songwriter/podcaster/humorist/skeptic/atheist. George has written a song detailing his view on Christmas. It's called 'I Don't Believe In Christmas'.

You can check out the video for the song here and if you like the song email George - geo@geologicrecords.net - and he'll send you a free mp3. Tell him Dimland Radio sent you.

Christmas Gift Received

My wife gave me four books this year. Three were of a skeptical nature and the fourth was about the stories beheind each of The Beatles' songs.

The skeptical titles were as follows:

Martin Gardner's 'Fad & Fallicies in the Name of Science'

Philip Plait's 'Bad Astronomy'

Benjanmin Radford's 'Sciencetific Paranormal Investigation'

Yay! Australia!

It's just a silicone band! It doesn't do anything!

Australia's government saw through the BS that is the Power Balance wristband. The producers of this highly overpriced ($30 a pop!) yet worthless item were instructed to cease their claims of increased balance, flexibilty and strength AND to refund all money to any customer who had felt duped by their bogus claims.

Attaboy, Australia!

Read more about it here.

Movie Recommendation: True Grit (1969)


Because the much anticpated (by me at least) Coen brothers' remake is in theaters now, I thought I'd recommend the original starring John Wayne. From what I heard the story's the same but the tone is very different. The original is very entertaining and well worth watching.

Music heard on the show...

Dimland Radio opening theme song: 'Ahead' by Wire
First ad break bumpers: 'Wake Up' by XTC & 'Jimmie Jones' by The Vapors
Second ad break bumpers: 'You'll Have to Go Sideways' by The Soft Boys & 'Mea Culpa' by Brian Eno/David Byrne
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