Culture on My Mind Dragon Con Report 2024 #9: The Final Countdown August 15, 2024
One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast. Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.
The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.
The ninth show of the 2024 season is jam-packed with Charles McFall (director of the Digital Media Track), Dave West (from the Big Damn Game Show), information from Charity Events, and a sample of the Dragon Con night life with Spider, Nori Noir, and Nemesis (members of the Cult of DCDJs).
The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
Last September, I told you all about a publication related to Dragon Con that was coming out. After a few delays, it has arrived in time for Dragon Con 2024.
I am honored to be part of a collection of essays, stories, memories, and more about Dragon Con. It is a collection of essays, stories, memories, and more, and the proceeds go to some great causes in memory of some great people.
Dragon Tales is a benefit book celebrating Atlanta’s largest multi-media pop culture convention for fans by fans. It contains stories, essays, memories, pro-tips, and more by folks who honor Dragon Con in their heart and try to keep it all the year.
It features contributions by Darin Bush, Jerry Chandler, Joe Crowe, Kevin Eldridge, Michael Falkner, Esther Friesner, Bernadette Johnson, Rob Levy, Bobby Nash, Mary Ogle, James Palmer, Ashley Pauls, R Alan Siler, Beth VanDusen, and DJ Spider. It was edited by Michael A. Gordon and features cover art by Mary Ogle.
The book is available now on Amazon. All proceeds of sales will be distributed to two charities in honor of two gentlemen, each of whom loved Dragon Con with all his soul.
Some of the contributors were featured on a recent edition of the Dragon Con Report.
If you bring a copy of the book to Dragon Con, come find me and I’ll sign my work for you.
The Dragon Con Report can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
Growing up, I remember videos played during school hours featuring a curly-haired man wearing a unitard. That outfit was decorated with various human tissues and organs in biologically accurate locations and sizes. That man was called Slim Goodbody.
Slim Goodbody championed health education and exercise for children. He is played by John Burstein, who entertained children at The Floating Hospital in New York City. Along with his songs and skits about exercise, hygiene, and nutrition, he added a body suit to teach anatomy lessons and took the stage name. After his time at the hospital, he started on The Today Show and Good Morning America before landing on Captain Kangaroo. He eventually received his own television show, Inside Story, on PBS in 1980.
I knew about his various shows on public television, but what I didn’t know was how Burstein made a lifelong career of his character. He has published books and educational shorts, and now tours the United States and Canada and runs a YouTube channel. The YouTube channel includes clips from his past work and new videos. He also has an Instagram account and a webpage.
John Burstein’s work as Slim Goodbody has earned him numerous awards and the longevity of his work has touched countless lives as he addresses children’s physical, mental, and emotional health. His lifelong mission continues to impress.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
Culture on My Mind Shakespearean Comedy: Love, Mistaken Identities, and Social Satire August 6, 2024
I’m playing catch-up with the Theater and Musical Lovers YouTube Channel.
The channel and its associated Facebook group were established as an unofficial gathering of Dragon Con attendees who love theater, musicals, and the performing arts. Their goal is to create a community of fellow thespians and fans at the convention.
In this performance, the thespians go classical with an enchanting journey into the world of Shakespearean comedy. Join Sarah, Cate, Stephanie, Carly, and Rivka as they unravel the delightful tapestry of love, mistaken identities, and social satire found in Shakespeare’s comedic masterpieces. Uproarious antics, mischievous characters, and witty wordplay lead to timeless shows that have delighted audiences for centuries.
Note: Depending on security settings, you may have to click below to see the video directly on YouTube. You should definitely subscribe to their channel for more updates.
The Theater and Musical Lovers Group will be hosting more of these panels. If you’re interested in participating or have some topic ideas in mind, head over to the group on Facebook and drop them a line. You can also find them on Instagram and coming soon on TikTok.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
Culture on My Mind xkcd on Spent Fuel Pools August 1, 2024
This time, I’m thinking about spent fuel pools.
In nuclear reactor plants, spent fuel pools are where used nuclear fuel is stored. Every 12 to 24 months, about 25-30 percent of the fuel load is removed from the reactor and placed in a shielded and controlled water pool at least twenty feet deep. The spent fuel is replaced with fresh fuel load while the spent fuel’s decay heat and radiation are mitigated by the water.
When xkcd‘s Randall Monroe started his what if? series, one of the “absurd questions” that he answered caught my attention:
What if I took a swim in a typical spent nuclear fuel pool? Would I need to dive to actually experience a fatal amount of radiation? How long could I stay safely at the surface?
The answer was first found on the what if?website, then in his book and as a YouTube video. The video version is what I’m sharing here today.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
Culture on My Mind The Magic of Disney on Broadway July 30, 2024
I’m playing catch-up with the Theater and Musical Lovers YouTube Channel.
The channel and its associated Facebook group were established as an unofficial gathering of Dragon Con attendees who love theater, musicals, and the performing arts. Their goal is to create a community of fellow thespians and fans at the convention.
In this performance, step into the enchanting realm of Disney on Broadway. A panel of Disney enthusiasts including Sarah, JJ, Lauren, Lawrence, Deanna, and Rob host a joy-filled exploration of the spellbinding fusion of Disney’s beloved characters and the electrifying energy of Broadway. They discuss how the music, choreography, and stagecraft transport you to Agrabah, the African savannah, and beyond, where we can bask in the pure joy of the extraordinary journeys where dreams come true.
Note: Depending on security settings, you may have to click below to see the video directly on YouTube. You should definitely subscribe to their channel for more updates.
The Theater and Musical Lovers Group will be hosting more of these panels. If you’re interested in participating or have some topic ideas in mind, head over to the group on Facebook and drop them a line. You can also find them on Instagram and coming soon on TikTok.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
Culture on My Mind *batteries not included July 26, 2024
I’m thinking about Spielberg-style alien encounters.
One of the movies that resonates from my childhood is *batteries not included. It’s the story of Faye and Frank Riley, an elderly couple who manage an aging apartment building and attached café in the East Village. The building is targeted by an unscrupulous property developer named Lacey who will stop at nothing to finish his fancy skyscraper. Lacey hires a local criminal named Carlos and his small gang to bully the tenants into moving, leaving an artist named Mason, a pregnant woman named Maria, a retired boxer named Harry, and the Rileys to defend their home.
The alien encounter comes in when sentient spaceships arrive and start repairing things. The pair of “Fix-Its” eventually have children and a small adventure with an arsonist before the film’s big happy ending.
It’s a simple film with simple stories, and that’s what makes it charming. The building tenants are wholesome people trying to make ends meet. In light of the US economy in 1987 – it had slowed significantly after the longest peacetime expansion in the country’s history and crashed on Black Monday in October, causing $1.7 billon in worldwide losses – the story was easily relatable for my family. In fact, with the deus ex machina of the Fix-Its, it becomes a modern-day fairy tale. It represents the power of family and loyalty in the face of unchecked greed disguised as progress, and it shows how a little bit of pride in a neighborhood and its history can improve everyone’s lives.
The story was originally slated for Spielberg’s Amazing Stories television series, but Spielberg liked the idea so much that it was developed as a feature film produced by Amblin Entertainment (Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, and Frank Marshall) and Universal Pictures. It was co-written by director Matthew Robbins and Brad Bird. This was Bird’s first feature film, and he’d go on to The Iron Giant, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and Tomorrowland.
The cast is great, including Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy in the lead roles, but my favorite character is Harry Noble. Frank McRae was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears, so he was built for this role as a retired boxer. Frank Riley’s character emphasizes Harry’s fighting past, but Frank McRae sells the silent pacifist who only raises his hands in defense. I love how he is the one who can stop, listen, and become a lighthouse for the Fix-Its with a pop culture quip.
The rest of the cast falls in behind McRae on my list, each showing strengths like love and loyalty as they become a chosen family. Even Carlos, who travels a redemption arc that ends on a down note, is a wonderful character.
Equally wonderful is the music. James Horner is one of my favorite film composers and his work on *batteries not included is fun and evocative of 1950s swing and jazz. It’s light and hopeful with enough darkness and sorrow where appropriate.
The staging and prop work is another highlight. The exterior shots included a three-sided four-story façade surrounded by 50 truckloads of rubble. It was so authentic that the sanitation department picked up prop trash bags, customers stopped by to eat at the faux diner, and a business agent questioned the lack of a builder’s permit for the new construction.
The film had a mixed reception, earning $65.1 million on a $25 million budget. Siskel and Ebert were divided with the former calling it a comic book with “the best pages torn out” while the latter praised it.
I love it despite the low-budget approach. It’s not a deep film to be remembered in the annals of the best of all time, but it tells a story that means something. It’s comfort food cinema, and sometimes that’s all you need.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
Culture on My Mind Battle Broadway 2023: What is Dragon Con’s Favorite Musical? July 24, 2024
This week, I’m playing catch-up with the Theater and Musical Lovers YouTube Channel.
The channel and its associated Facebook group were established as an unofficial gathering of Dragon Con attendees who love theater, musicals, and the performing arts. Their goal is to create a community of fellow thespians and fans at the convention.
Last August, the thespians and stagehands went into battle to determine the top musical among Dragon Con attendees. Which one reigns supreme? Join Gary, Sarah, Sue, Kevin, and a live audience as they debate which one is the number one.
Note: Depending on security settings, you may have to click below to see the video directly on YouTube. You should definitely subscribe to their channel for more updates.
The Theater and Musical Lovers Group will be hosting more of these panels. If you’re interested in participating or have some topic ideas in mind, head over to the group on Facebook and drop them a line. You can also find them on Instagram and coming soon on TikTok.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
Culture on My Mind Dragon Con Report 2024 #7: Broadway, Bands, and Burlesque July 22, 2024
One of the ways that I like to prep for Dragon Con is by listening to the Dragon Con Report podcast. Brought to you by the ESO Network, the podcast is a monthly discussion on all things Dragon Con that counts down to the big event over Labor Day weekend in Atlanta, Georgia.
The show is hosted by Michael Gordon, Jennifer Schleusner, and Channing Sherman, and it delivers news, notes, tips, and tricks for newbies and veterans alike. The Dragon Con Newbies community has a great relationship with the show and the network.
The seventh show of the 2024 season samples some of the live entertainment options at Dragon Con. From Broadway discussions and singalongs to live bands and burlesque shows, the Dragon Con Report has you covered with updates from the DC Theater & Performing Arts Lovers group plus guests from Dragon Con Burlesque and The Killbillies.
The show can be found in video form on YouTube and in audio on the official website and wherever fine podcasts are fed. The Dragon Con Report channels can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can catch their shows live on those platforms or on demand on their website.
Culture on My Mind is inspired by the weekly Can’t Let It Go segment on the NPR Politics Podcast where each host brings one thing to the table that they just can’t stop thinking about.
In this edition, Apollo 11 and the first human lunar landing turn 55, rat poison has a long reach, and Project 2025 may harm science.
NASA – NASA to Commemorate 55th Anniversary of Apollo 11 Moon Landing As the agency explores more of the Moon than ever before under the Artemis campaign, NASA will celebrate the 55th anniversary of the first astronauts landing on the Moon through a variety of in-person, virtual, and engagement activities nationwide between Monday, July 15, and Thursday, July 25.
NASA – Mission: Apollo 11 The primary objective of Apollo 11 was to complete a national goal set by President John F. Kennedy on May 25, 1961: perform a crewed lunar landing and return to Earth.
Science.com – Rat Poison’s Long Reach (July 10, 2024) Supertoxic rodenticides are building up inside unintended targets, including birds, mammals, and insects. Scientists want to understand the damage—and limit it.
Be Smart – A PBS Digital Studios science show hosted by Dr. Joe Hanson (Ph.D., Cell and Molecular Biology).
Veritasium – A combination of the Latin for truth, veritas, and the suffix common to many elements, -ium, this show is literally an element of truth. It is hosted by Australian-Canadian science communicator, filmmaker, and inventor Derek Muller (Ph.D., Physics Education Research).
Kyle Hill – Kyle Hill is a science educator with degrees in civil and environmental engineering and science communication. He previously hosted the popular Because Science YouTube series, but now runs The Facility.
Ask a Mortician – Caitlin Doughty is a mortician, author, blogger, and YouTube personality known for advocating death acceptance and the reform of Western funeral industry practices. You got death questions, she’s got death answers. Ask a Mortician was suggested by Sue Kisenwether.
Becky Stern – Becky Stern is a maker living in NYC. Making and sharing are her two biggest passions!
Practical Engineering – Grady Hillhouse is a civil engineer in San Antonio, Texas. His channel aims to increase exposure and interest in the field of engineering by highlighting the connection between the world around us and the energy, passion, and thought that goes into making it a nicer place to live.
Shop Time – Peter Brown is a geek with a full set of power tools, and he uses that knowledge to experiment, craft, and have fun.
David Bennett – David Bennett is a professional pianist and published composer who started lessons at eleven, quit them and started teaching himself at thirteen, and was a full-time musician by the age of twenty-one. He shares this passion on YouTube to educate others about music.
Charles Cornell – Charles Cornell, a YouTuber and online content creator in the music education space, has a professional background as a jazz pianist and composer.
Smarter Every Day – Mechanical engineer and aerospace engineer Destin Sandlin explores the world using science in this series. He was one of three YouTube personalities chosen to conduct a one-on-one interview with President Barack Obama after his final State of the Union address. His secondary channel provides additional details and interviews to supplement his primary channel’s videos.
Mark Rober – An engineer and inventor, Mark Rober presents popular science concepts and do-it-yourself gadgets in easy-to-understand terms. He was previously a NASA engineer (where he worked on the Curiosity rover) and a product designer at Apple’s Special Projects Group (where he authored patents involving virtual reality in self-driving cars). One of his best-known series involves the development of a glitter bomb to combat porch pirates and internet scammers.
Glen and Friends – Glen and Julie Powell of Toronto host this look into recipes from the Depression Era, including if those recipes still work or can be improved in the modern day. It’s a great look into history and how cooking is both science and art.
I Like To Make Stuff – Bob Clagett likes to make stuff, whether it be home renovations, fixing up a vintage car, or building an astromech droid.
Wendover Productions – Wendover Productions, run by filmmaker Sam Denby, is all about explaining how our world works. From travel, to economics, to geography, to marketing, and more, every video will leave you with a little better understanding of our world.
If you have any suggestions for STEAM Saturday, please leave them below in the comments. If your suggestion is used, your name will be credited.
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Thanks for stopping by. I hope that something inspired you to get out there and explore the universe.
STEAM Saturday is a celebration of curiosity and imagination through science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics, the very building blocks of the universe around us.
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