For me, there is one huge problem with this episode.  Even as a firmly committed carnivore, I would find it very, very difficult to eat something that could talk to me.  That would include Francis the Taking Mule, Mr. Ed, and people.

I saw him in San Diego in the early 70's.  He did requests from the audience, someone asked for him to sing Both Sides Now, which he covered.  He started, forgot the words about half way through, and his heartfelt apology and ode to Joni Mitchell was worth only hearing half the song.  Even when he screws up, he is the…

So, an all-Thunderclap Newman soundtrack?

I have to say that I love Courtney Love's song, Dying.  In fact, for all the crap she gets (and she deserves a lot of it), she made two really terrific albums.

I was a teenager cut off from the pot smoke and wanton sexuality of the 1970's.   I just didn't have a cool habitrail as my excuse.

Not unless you think that persuasion = coercion and a woman can't (or won't) voluntarily consent to sex.

Loved Connie Willis's "To Say Nothing of the Dog," an entertaining mashup of time-travel, Victorian novels, and Jerome K. Jerome's classic "Three Men in a Boat." (You should read Jerome's book first).

Loved Connie Willis's "To Say Nothing of the Dog," an entertaining mashup of time-travel, Victorian novels, and Jerome K. Jerome's classic "Three Men in a Boat." (You should read Jerome's book first).

So there wasn't much in the way of good music again this year?

So there wasn't much in the way of good music again this year?

Salt Lake City is actually a relatively diverse cosmopolitan city, with a minority Mormon population.  Big gay scene, and usually a Democratic mayor.

Salt Lake City is actually a relatively diverse cosmopolitan city, with a minority Mormon population.  Big gay scene, and usually a Democratic mayor.

No surprise— they get free pizza.

No surprise— they get free pizza.

I love these inspirational stories for the holidays.

I love these inspirational stories for the holidays.

The original was just awful.  Good actors, but godawful scripts and storyline.  About as subtle as a ball-peen hammer to the back of the head.

The original was just awful.  Good actors, but godawful scripts and storyline.  About as subtle as a ball-peen hammer to the back of the head.

"Apollo 13" is all about an aborted moon landing.  It was controversial at the time, so I don't think that the movie even mentions the word abortion.

"Apollo 13" is all about an aborted moon landing.  It was controversial at the time, so I don't think that the movie even mentions the word abortion.