Inappropriate Conversations

The concept of parental control, even censorship, was clearly a part of my upbringing. I could cite numerous examples of inconsistencies, though:
Three's Company, Soap, American Graffiti, National Lampoon's Animal House, Queen, Elton John, Rod Stewart, Harold Robbins (The Betsy), Xaviera Hollander (The Happy Hooker), Hermann Hesse (Siddhartha), Alex Comfort (The Joy of Sex, More Joy of Sex), Bari Wood & Jack Geasland (Twins).

Different Drummer: Dolly Parton

George In Atlanta #52

Wrapping up the TalkBack series for November-December, I'm putting the 12 Days Of Christmas podcast on Christmas Day, which is when that concept actually starts. Only part, a large part, of the Christian world celebrates the holiday in December. The rest have 12 days to go. The wise men have yet to deliver their gifts, after all. Only shepherds have appeared on the scene at this stage. 

I plan to continue TalkBack with a new series in January, but it will feature only one prior podcast -- delivered again in parts.

AMC is televising "Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey" for the 2018 holiday season, with (sometimes very early) morning broadcasts on December 12th, 21st, and 24th. It isn't a Rankin-Bass classic, but it is worth the time to look back at the 1977 half-hour special. So far, the only commentaries of this sort I've done have been for Rudolph and Nestor. Make of that what you will.

Looking back at the 2018 Pride48 Podcast Expo in New Orleans with great memories of how the event went, looking forward to next time. 
Also, an attempt to take recent SCOTUS nominee testimony before the U.S. Senate judiciary committee seriously, and where that ultimately leads.

Different Drummer: Yvette Nicole Brown

The JV Club #25

Live from Pride48 New Orleans Podcasting Expo 2018:

Allies

Intersections

Different Drummer(s)

Loving someone as they are, and hiding who they are

Rogers' message: you are not a mistake

Peaceful Neighbor

Understanding the quiet gay activism of Mister Rogers

Vanity Fair interview with Francois Clemmons

Different Drummer: Francois Clemmons and Fred Rogers

Special thanks to Nicole Villacres from Greetings From Nowhere and Pride48.

I have questions about immigration and the current state of our policies as a nation. I don't profess to have a lot of answers, but I will admit that some of the possibilities seem both obvious and disturbing. For example, what have we become?

Different Drummer: Peter Falk


One question I don't ask directly: Am I becoming increasingly self-referential? 
Allow me to answer with links.

188: Constitutional Crisis

152: Anticipating the Bang

42: "The Morning After" for classic Made-for-TV Movies

103: The Thriller Is Gone

187: Television Debut (1972-73)

105: Press Coverage

15: Declaring War on "Just Say No"

195: Telling Your Stories (Before It's Too Late)

59: Ten Areas of Agreement about Abortion - part 1

60: Ten Areas of Agreement about Abortion - part 2

Inappropriate Conversations on Facebook

Far too often, discussions about politics and religion (or even popular culture) are being compromised if not thwarted by blind devotion to entrenched positions. We are becoming more segregated than at any point in my lifetime, not just along arbitrary divisions of race. It's two kinds of news, or even in the minds of some people two kinds of bakeries. Tragically, we are watching an "us versus them" siege play out before our eyes and ears. I've no doubt that I have been impacted, too. Potential listeners of Inappropriate Conversations have, for want of a better phrase, weeded themselves out on shaky religious grounds. And, perhaps, my personal policies like never "un-friending" anyone might make those suspicions seem legitimate. If we can't remain in dialogue, though, then how will we have any real conversations -- inappropriate or otherwise?

Different Drummer: Mel Blanc