8 O'Clock Buzz

With the 50th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, Norm Stockwell of the Progressive Magazine joins host Tony Castañeda and Eli Wilz to talk about the growing nuclear threat in the world.  Tensions between the US and China, and with Russia are increasing the potential for war and/or a catastrophic accident.  Norm also touches on another 50th anniversary, that of the overthrow of the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in Chile in 1973.

Image by WikiImages from Pixabay

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In their recent paper, “Missing Americans: Early Death in the United States, 1933-2021“, Jacob Bor et al. assessed how many U.S. deaths would have been averted each year, 1933-2021, if U.S. age-specific mortality rates had equaled those of other wealthy nations. Bor describes their data, and how, starting in 1980, the U.S. has diverged from the average of other comparable wealthy nations. Especially noted are the higher rates of death among individuals younger than 65 years of age in all racial categories — indicating links to structural racism, economic inequality, and underinvestment in public health and social safety net programs in the U.S. since 1980.

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Today on the Tuesday 8:00 Buzz with Tara Wilhelmi and 1neofmani (Breyon Sommerville), Alan Robinson from Herbal Aspects Cannabis Dispensary joins to talk about cannabis business, politics, policy, swinging chairs and more!

More information on Herbal Aspect Dispensary: https://herbalaspect.com/ celebrate the grand opening of the Gammon Road store (next to Woodman’s) on September 1st starting at 11AM!

Coverage of the racist attack in Birmingham from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/07/alabama-montgomery-riverfront-brawl-dock-worker-attacked 

Progress Center’s Folding Chair Meetup Friday at 6PM: https://www.facebook.com/events/1639573343186952/

Mad Lit Friday night on State Street at 8PM: https://www.facebook.com/events/939727790573666/939727807240331/ 

Listen in Madison at 89.9FM or online anywhere at wortfm.org.  Support your community radio with a donation online at wortfm.org!

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The infinitesimal, nearly massless and neutrally charged subatomic particles known as neutrinos ignore forces of the universe such as gravity and electromagnetic forces.  Streams of neutrinos travel through the universe at light speed, barreling unimpeded through planets, stars and galaxies.  Astronomers find that peculiar behavior tantalizing, as neutrinos can carry information from far parts of the universe.

The challenge, however, is capturing the little suckers.  Enter the Ice Cube project, which uses Antarctica’s vast ice sheet as a sort of neutrino trap.  Researchers at Ice Cube have just released their first neutrino astronomical map of the Milky Way Galaxy.  Francis Halzen is a physicist with the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the spokesperson for the Ice Cube project.  Francis Halzen joins us now by phone. 

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Remember the Green New Deal?  The legislation that espoused federal investment in low-carbon, environmental infrastructure as a way to create good-paying jobs?  Well, if you’re looking for a poster child for the potential of the Green New Deal, look no further than the U.S. railroad industry.  Here’s a nationwide, essential industry stuck, through corporate inertia and government acquiescence, using nineteenth century technology, all while spewing significant amounts of carbon and other fumes into the atmosphere.

Meanwhile, workers at the Wabtec locomotive manufacturing plant in Erie, Pennsylvania have been on strike since June, demanding increases in locomotive production.  The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, otherwise known as UE, represents workers at the Wabtec plant, and they’ve been pushing for green emission mandates on the railroad industry to create jobs.  Carl Rosen is the General President of UE, and he joins us now by phone.  Also joining us is Scott Slawson, President of UE Local 506, which represents workers at the Erie Wabtec plant.

 

Related Links

A New Climate Rule Could Change the Face of America’s Railways – In These Times

 

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If you’ve ever suffered through a badly taught, boring middle school science class, you might think that science and comedy are completely incompatible.  Two shows coming up this week at The Bur Oak aim to change your opinion.  As part of Madison Comedy Week, the east side venue offers two science and comedy shows on Wednesday, August 9th.  The first at 7 p.m., called “Laugh GPT” has a number of comics conversing with AI-created virtual celebrities.  The show is hosted by Bennett Brown and Dan Gantman, who both join us now.  Also joining us is Diya Basrai, who brings the Chicago show “Uncontrolled Variables” pitting real scientists against wildly hypothesizing comics to Madison audiences.  

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Kirk Bangstad, owner of Minocqua Brewery, is on the Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz with host Tony Castañeda, to explain how perceived business violations led the Oneida County Planning & Development Committee to revoke his Administrative Review Permit. The move effectively forces Bangstad to close his business immediately, but he maintains that he’s been the target of a political vendetta due to his progressive activism, and promises to appeal the decision.

Photo courtesy of Nicholas Bartos on Unsplash.

 

 

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Los Texmaniacs, a conjunto band created by Max Baca in 1997, will be making their Sugar Maple Music Festival debut on Friday, August 4, 2023. In 2010 Los Texmaniacs won a Grammy Award for Tejano Album of The Year “Borders y Bailes“. Max Baca joins Thursday 8 O’Clock Buzz host Tony Castañeda to explain to our audience how the conjunto sound evolved, starting with button accordians brought to the US by German and Czech immigrants in the late 1800s, the addition of the bajo sexto, and later the upright bass and drums. Prior to their 7:30pm show, they will conduct a workshop entitled “Dimensions of Border Music” from 5:40pm – 6:20pm. Aspriring Conjunto/Tejano musicians are encouraged to bring their instruments for what is sure to be a sweet jam session.

Photo courtesy of Joanna Avalos on Unsplash.

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In need of some levity in your life? Well, you’re certainly not alone, and thanks to our fair city’s flourishing local comedy scene, there will be ample chances to guffaw, chortle and titter your troubles away during Madison Comedy Week, which runs from August 6-13, 2023 at a number of venues around the city, including the Sessions at McPike Park on Aug. 11-12. Thursday morning’s 8 O’Clock Buzz host Tony Castañeda and his stalwart co-host (and local funny guy) Eli Wilz talk to the founder and producer of Madison Comedy Week Jake Snell, who convinced this often glum and despairing listener to check out some of the festival’s over 25 standup, improv, music and themed variety shows. See you in the funny pages!

Photo courtesy of Tim Mossholder on Unsplash.

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Come and celebrate “Lanterns for Peace”, to commemorate those killed in the Hiroshima nuclear bombing, 77 years ago. Amy Schultz and Ann Behrmann from Physicians for Social Responsibility — WI, invite you to Tenney Park on Sunday, August 6th, at 6:30 PM to build floating lanterns in honor of the occasion and send your peace intentions.

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