FreeThought Fresno

Surfcast Hawaii

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Thanks to a reward trip earned by Mrs. T for excellent work performance in '07, the Thornes found themselves on the Hawaiian island of Oahu in late June. After succeeding in keeping Thorne Junior under control during the five-hour flight, we made the 40-minute drive from the Honolulu Airport to the Turtle Bay Resort, located right on the beach and very close to Oahu's northernmost point.

Staying that far from the crowded craziness of Honolulu made the trip a real getaway for the Family Thorne. Between peace, quiet, beach, pools and days of buffets, we all managed to have a great time.

But sure, we worried about getting there, checking in, what to do, how it would affect our routine, and more. But, as you'll likely conclude, none of that really matters after spending some time hearing the crashing of the surf on a coral reef at high tide.

Sit back, close your eyes or stare at this photo, and enjoy. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

Cold Cranking Vamps

Thu, 29 May 2008 20:00:00 GMT

After an unannounced and unintentional two-month break, Thorne returns to the podwaves and fills some time with this, a hodgepodge of responses to commentary, current activities, summer plans, and at least one plea for help.

No, the schedule woes that have torpedoed Thorne have not abated. Instead, he finds himself swimming in an overbooked calendar, with conflicts ranging from canine noise and home plumbing repair to an unanticipated summer trip coming all too soon.

And while he and family intend to have fun, you, the listeners, can help guarantee that fun by answering Thorne's query: How can one get a preschooler through a four-hour airline flight without resorting to duct tape and tranquilizers?

Submit your suggestions -- and your thoughts -- by clicking the Comments link below. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

A Frazzled Father's Lament

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 20:00:00 GMT

They tell any new parent that maintaining a routine is important. After all, a competent routine -- doing the same things at the same time every day -- can keep your child happier by instilling a sense of "knowing what's coming next," all while helping a new parent preserve some semblence of sanity.

But what happens when, years later, the routine goes away? In this episode Thorne tells all, focusing on how one small change can crumble that routine like a house of cards, sending any notion of free time -- as well as what's left of Thorne's at-home-dad social life, perceived competence, self-confidence and sanity -- straight into the shitter.

Any advice for this now-frazzled father? Please share it in Comments. And perhaps now more than ever, thanks for listening! ft

Tag 'Em and Flag 'Em

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 23:00:00 GMT

The rain has stopped, the flu has returned, and Thorne -- between chunky-style coughs -- finds himself once again contemplating whatever.

Fat Tuesday came and went, the 2008 celebration apparently bereft of last year's bullet-fueled hijinks. But what's going on with the current uptick in tagging? Did the Fresno Anti-Graffiti Squad take January off?

And with Fat and Super Tuesdays coinciding in 2008, Thorne once again has politics on the brain, discovering with a little help from quizzes at VoteChooser and WQAD that the four positions he took in FTF's recent "Calling for a Reboot" episode can indeed translate into support for specific candidates.

Talk back, leave comments, or even Skype us at ID "farris.thorne". And as always, thanks for listening! ft

Rain

Sun, 27 Jan 2008 21:00:00 GMT

So far, 2008 has been all wet. Literally, with a series of California 'winter storms' leaving streets slick, Fresno waterlogged, Thorne exhausted, and ideas uninspired.

In this episode, Thorne offers a brief recap of his holiday travel, convinced that some holiday visits were far better than others. Next, he addresses the plentiful rain that has graced California for most of the new year. Is it possible for storms -- nearly incessant since the New Year's arrival -- to bring about a malaise intense enough to deep-six more interesting topics?

Thorne assures his audience this is not his best episode, and he'll be back with more interesting topics when the rain lets up. In the meantime, feel free to cheer him up by leaving a comment through the link below. Or even better, look for him on Skype and give him a call... he's there under the Skype ID 'farris.thorne'. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

Yellow-Eyed Santa

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 11:00:00 GMT

After a series of bad-luck events, Thorne has concluded the holiday season may not be shaping up the way he intended. From cancelled events to suddenly polluted Chinese food, Household Thorne seems to be getting more than its share of holiday frustration in 2007.

But none of that bad luck is the fault of Fresno. Indeed, the two holiday elements Thorne has successfully enjoyed so far this year are actually native to the Central Valley's largest city. First, Thorne highlights fun times at Fresno's Fashion Fair Mall, including cute moments with the kettle staffers and a better-than expected Santa's Village. And second comes a walk down Fresno's Xmas Tree Lane, which may turn out to be the highlight of the season, save for one apparently pervasive nose wrinkle.

Thank you, all listeners, for tuning in to FreeThought Fresno in 2007. We'll see you in the New Year. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

Exile in Packerville

Thu, 6 Dec 2007 11:00:00 GMT

So, aside from Packer worship, what comprises the real Green Bay? Is it weather? Commerce? Cuisine? Or perhaps something outside of the typical American zeitgeist?

While making his annual business trip to Northeast Wisconsin's "city by the bay," -- described in a recent Los Angeles Times column as "an obscure little place with more chipmunks than people (and) more deer rifles than cellphones" -- Thorne dug deep to learn what the real Green Bay is all about.

And perhaps unfortunately, he came away convinced that Green Bay's collective consciousness is, in fact, all about Packer worship. From street names to infrastructure, from fast food to household maintenance, the Packer Effect is pervasive in every aspect of Green Bay life. With his time in Packerville growing short, this "Packer outsider" shares his insights about experiencing Green Bay life "on the inside."

Comments are encouraged and welcomed. Unless they're coming from irate Packer fans with deer rifles, that is. As always, thanks for listening! ft

Family Flu, Travel, and Open Contempt

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 04:00:00 GMT

A late November day finds Thorne away from Fresno and well across the United States, podcasting from a less-than-quiet hotel room in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Sure, he's a little "off" this time. But it's not the lack of his usual recording rig that's making him rant.

Instead, a curious November bearing a bout with Family Stomach Flu, a Thanksgiving holiday with the in-laws, a three-connection cross-country flight and a long-dormant hatred of "business formal" has Thorne spewing vitriol. He also answers the question, "Why was Thorne so sad when Hollywood costume-designer Edith Head died?" All in a nice way, though, save for his graphic flu-symptom descriptions.

For background, read more about his Mother-In-Law at Thorne's blog, FreeForm Fresno. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

UPDATE: Libsyn, the syndicator for this podcast, announced Nov. 30 that it's currently experiencing some kind of "delivery problem" with recently posted episodes like this one. So I've uploaded a new copy of the MP3 file, and am hoping that will solve any "file unplayable" issues listeners may experience. If you still cannot download or hear the episode, please drop me a line at farris_thorne yahoo.com... thanks! ft

Calling for a Reboot

Tue, 6 Nov 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Halloween is past, November has arrived, and Fresno is enjoying some of its best weather of the year. With leaves beginning to change and gentle breezes blowing, it's time for Fresnans to get out there and enjoy it.

It's not time, however, to be thinking about who we'd like to win an election that's still an entire year away... at least in Thorne's view. And yet, American media are immersed in covering the horse race that is the 2008 Presidential Election. Every night, the news is all about who's ahead, who's organized, who's got the cash, and who folks might like in the Oval Office.

But by Thorne's way of thinking, we're going about this electoral process all wrong. Shouldn't we begin by thinking not about who we like, but rather about what we want them to accomplish? Shouldn't elections be less about the cult of personality, and more about the marketplace of ideas?

Thorne's not endorsing anybody yet. But he does lay out exactly how a candidate will earn his vote. If the entire year left in the process doesn't make Thorne sick to his stomach, that is.

Comments are invited and appreciated. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

Fit Hondas, Fat Hondas

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Fall has arrived, officially. And at Household Thorne, the fall activities are myriad: hacking coughs all around, a visit to the Big Fresno Fair, and an exercise in patience and concern involving a backyard orange tree all garner serious time investments here at our home in the Tower District.

But despite all the new season has to offer, and for a couple of reasons, Thorne finds himself with a case of "cars on the brain." With new models finding their ways to dealer's lots this time of year, a neighbor's hunt for new wheels gets Farris thinking about the brand-new, much larger, eighth-generation Honda Accord. What the heck was Honda thinking, making it so huge? And is the fault in the stars, dear Brutus, or in ourselves?

So what do you think? Do cars need to be bigger to get better? Make your thoughts known by clicking our Comments link. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

Bubba and the 'Fading O'

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 12:00:00 GMT

A kind iTunes review from listener 'Coffee Mug' spurs this episode, in which Thorne talks about the 'real Fresno' he's come to know after living here for only one year.

Is Fresno really as bad as many believe? Thorne thinks not. Instead, he posits the real issue may be mere civic self-esteem, combined with a couple of really unambitious marketing efforts.

Want these episodes delivered automatically into your iTunes library? Subscribe by clicking the iTunes button in the top-right corner of this page. It's easy, it costs nothing, and it'll ensure you don't miss a moment of FreeThought Fresno. Except, that is, for those moments you might sleep through.

UPDATE: 'Where's Bubba?', from the Fresno Bee.

As always, thanks for listening! ft

A Fresno Street Trip

Sat, 1 Sep 2007 10:00:00 GMT

With the Labor Day weekend upon us, most folks will find themselves spending at least a little bit of time "on the road," making their way to some destination somewhere.

But just in case you're not on the road this weekend, fear not-- FreeThought Fresno wouldn't want you to miss out. And it's in that spirit Thorne offers this week's episode, a 30-minute destinationless drive through some of the most-trafficked streets in Fresno.

Recorded on a relatively quiet, late-August morning, the sounds of traffic are not as loud or constant as would be considered "typical Fresno." But Thorne hopes you'll at least get an earful of the local flavor... or at least as much "local flavor" as there is on Shaw and Blackstone Avenues.

Nothing too deep this time, folks. I mean, come on, it's a holiday. But as always, thanks for listening! ft

The Uppity Moms Club

Sat, 25 Aug 2007 16:00:00 GMT

New theme music kicks off this episode, in which Thorne spends some time at the coffeehouse taking in the air conditioning.

Yes, the dog days of summer have revealed more than one menace in Fresno. From bad air, to school-zone speeders, to dogfighting gangs, to the dorks at Dorktown, Fresno seems to be bearing the brunt of the last weeks of August.

But an even greater menace may lurk in the confines of Oso de Oro Park. They meet online, they travel as a unit, they carry coffee cups, and they move on without notice, cutting short new friendships between toddlers and leaving only gab in their wake. Can a work-at-home dad survive the onslaught of Fresno's "Uppity Moms Club"?

Comments can be left by clicking the link below. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

I Don't Recall...

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 16:00:00 GMT

Toddler does well, toddler earns reward toy, parent buys toy, toddler and toy live happily ever after. Things really should be that simple.

But in the summer of 2007, nothing could be further from the truth. In this episode, Thorne describes the series of toy recalls this year affecting his Boy directly, and offers at least one "full circle" method for dealing with these recalls. Guacamole and pate, anyone?

Comments are invited and encouraged, especially from those toy-company executives who value cheapness over safety. As always, thanks for listening! ft

UPDATE: Was I not just talking about this?

The Pirates of Pantsless

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:00:00 GMT

So, why can't one of America's most popular minivans climb a mountain grade without having trouble? How comfortable can a wedding ceremony be? And what the hell happened to one of the Vegas Strip's most prized properties, Treasure Island?

Having just returned from his sister's wedding in Las Vegas, Thorne shares trip details and insights about two very different Vegas-es: the one he remembers, and the one he experienced last weekend.

In the end, all was well; but there were some interesting events along the way. Who'd have thought a simple pirate show would be so, well, different than Thorne remembered.

Comments are encouraged and welcomed. As always, thanks for listening! ft

Lost In The Stacks

Sun, 8 Jul 2007 04:00:00 GMT

Sheesh, it's been a while. But it's nice to be back, and we hope you'll stick around despite the unpredictable nature of production time.

Today, Thorne talks about the confluence of events that prevented his updating of FreeThought Fresno for the last two months. Some of the issues were quiet, but the big one was incredibly noisy. And yes, he included a 20-second sample.

Has anyone else noticed how difficult it's becoming to find good music? Thorne has. Is it just his -- ahem -- 'older demographic'? Or could there be a problem with Fresno's big music outlets?

As always, our comment boards are open. Thanks for sticking around, and more important, thanks for listening! ft

Conveyor Belt vs. Catholic

Sat, 5 May 2007 16:00:00 GMT

After a brief lament over the loss of local coffeehouses in Fresno, a family announcement has Thorne reminiscing this week about his experiences with the Catholic 'wedding process.'

No 'Sound of Music' sisters or 'Fr. Phil' priests here, friends; just some simple memories of taking the Myers-Briggs from nuns, and having the parish priest say '"get separated to come together." This week, it's all about Thorne not making the same mistake twice, and about Thorne's sister avoiding that mistake on her first try.

So what presents are appropriate for a 43-year-old bride? Comments are expected and welcomed... and as always, thanks for listening! ft

Sin Razon

Sat, 28 Apr 2007 16:00:00 GMT

When tragedy strikes, people usually comfort themselves by looking for the meaning within the tragedy. But is that meaning inherent to the event? Or is it something we need to build?

In the aftermath of the Virginia Tech tragedy, Thorne explores three popular reactions to such events. Was it really just bad communication? Should it be used to further political agendas? And do such events have an inherent meaning? Or is that meaning something we need to build?

Not much humor in this episode, obviously. Leave your thoughts on our Comment board, and as always, thanks for listening! ft

Screw Climate Change, Gimme a Caprice

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 16:00:00 GMT

Back after ten rounds with a desert-induced cough, Thorne this week talks about the latest apocalyptic climate report, rare wisdom from the current U.S. Supreme Court, and one of the largest U.S. company's failure to adapt.

Sure, they'll say they they're just giving their market what it wants. But just because rear-wheel-drive is the automakers' fad du jour, do the cars have to be bigger and heavier? And in the face of overwhelming evidence, don't companies at least have the responsibility to do the right thing?

Our Comment boards are open. Leave us your thoughts on this or any other topic, and they'll likely be on our next episode. Please do the right thing when it comes to your next car. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

A FreeThinker's Easter

Sat, 7 Apr 2007 16:00:00 GMT

It's the middle of a holiday weekend, and Thorne finds himself on the road, headed to the middle of the Mojave for a visit to the in-laws.

In this episode, Thorne ponders how a freethinker plans to spend the Easter holiday and explores the roots of his own freethought philosophy. Wait a minute... freethought and Easter? Given the nature of the holiday, isn't that a contradiction in terms?

Thorne thinks not. Instead, as the Thorne Family spends the holiday weekend enjoying a few family dinners, keeping Thorne Junior safe from his Grandpa's hobbies and watching the unbridled joy of a toddler on an Egg Hunt, this episode explores the "stunningly normal" life of one Fresno freethinker.

Leave your thoughts and tell us how you'll be spending your holiday weekend by clicking the Comments link below. Enjoy those chocolate bunnies, have a great holiday however you choose to spend it, and thanks for listening! ft

50,416 Words in 31 Days

Sat, 31 Mar 2007 16:00:00 GMT

Well, Thorne did it. After picking up a copy of Chris Baty's No Plot, No Problem, which may be the ultimate guide to novel writing, I took on the task of National Novel Writing Month a few months early.

Make no mistake: Writing a 50,000-word draft in a single month is an audacious task. On first glance it would seem impossible. And yet...

So how did I do? What was it like? And how did all of this work turn out? This week, Thorne explores his experience as a month-long novelist. Vitamins are good, caffeine is better, but nothing beats chronic sleep deprivation.

As always, thanks for listening! ft

Feeling '82 at 40

Sat, 17 Mar 2007 16:00:00 GMT

As Thorne discovers this week, it's the little things in life that can make you feel ancient. Like hearing an old favorite come over the speakers at a local hangout, only to realize how truly long it's been since that old favorite came out.

Can pop culture really make your joints ache? Can memories of ancient events and archaic technologies really make your mind decay? Join us this week and explore, if you dare. You have nothing to lose but your sense of youth.

As always, thanks for listening! ft

Attack of the Oso de Oro Fireplug Vigilante

Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:00:00 GMT

An incident last Tuesday leads to this episode, an exploration of the possible temperment of someone who apparently believes they're dispensing raw justice in north-central Fresno.

The players:

one beautiful day;
one morning with The Boy;
one absent-minded moment;
one parking-slot shortage; and
one premier neighborhood park.

Enter the Oso de Oro Fireplug Vigilante. And soon, without so much as lifting a finger, Thorne discovers that ticking off a neighbor here in Fresno is, as they say, as easy as a walk in the park.

No coffee-drink introduction this time. Instead, Thorne recorded this episode in the comfort of his backyard. And yes, that's actual construction and barking-dog noise you're hearing in the background. That's real Fresno, folks... you can't fake that kind of table-saw ambiance.

As always, thanks for listening! ft

Nearsighted and Relentlessly Cheap

Sat, 3 Mar 2007 05:00:00 GMT

An upper-Midwestern company rejects a nationally published news story for its intra-company news. Even though the item is positive and forward-looking. Even though the item doesn't dwell on climatological details.

And most important, even though the item describes a joint effort involving the company's largest customer.

So why was the item rejected? Simply because the story mentions the concept of global warming.

The friend who alerted me to this wondered, "I wonder if (my company) believes in the theory of gravity."

So why, when the majority of their employees know the truth, does a company insist on denying that global warming exists? Thorne explores a few possibilities this week while looking for the possibility of grassroots change through the employees of corporate America.

For those looking, here's a link to that recent discussion about American automakers and their reliance on SUVs. As always, thanks for listening! ft

Bullets over Broadway and Olive

Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:01:00 GMT

City living sometimes means a moment or two of terror. And we certainly had ours this week, as a 23-year-old resident of nearby Clovis went on a rampage, shooting three police officers and a bystander during celebrations Tuesday in Fresno's Tower District.

Although no one yet understands why this happened, media in Fresno are still debating whether the police acted properly in bringing this suspect down.

But as a parent living just two blocks from the bullet-fueled chase, Thorne is wondering, "Why all the debate? And just what is proper police procedure around here?"

Be sure to share your own views by clicking "Comments" below. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

Rambling Through Towns

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 05:00:00 GMT

After living here for nearly five months, what's Thorne's biggest beef about Fresno? "There's not much to do around here."

This week, I ramble through Tower District fun, a nice Valentine's Day dinner, getting accosted by an allegedly pregnant transient, and why despite all that Fresno lacks, I'd still choose it over the tundra of Green Bay, Wisconsin.

We're approaching the end of the "sound-check" phase of this netcast. We hope you'll keep tuning in. And as always, thanks for listening! ft

There's Cash in Them There Crises

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

With everything else happening in today's world, why are we so obsessed with the Anna Nicole Smith story?

Don't we have anything better to do? Might we find better topics to keep top-of-mind? Or have we become such a celebrity-obsessed culture that we're eager to get the dirt on the rich and famous, no matter how tragic the story?

I'm fighting a pretty bad cold this week, so expect to hear some gravel when you tune in. And yikes, if drugs really did do in Anna Nicole Smith, what am I doing stuffing a Drixoral, Robitussin cough syrup, two aspirin and a Halls Mentho-Lyptus down my own throat right before recording the show? Is a simple netcast episode worth all of those chemicals?

Enjoy... and as always, thanks for listening! ft

Global Warming and Curly Bulbs

Sun, 4 Feb 2007 01:26:00 GMT

One more evening at the coffeehouse, with my thoughts going to global warming. I'd forced -- no, "strongly encouraged" -- Mrs. Thorne to sit down with me last weekend and watch An Inconvenient Truth, and with both of us coming away impressed and concerned, the time seems right for family action.

But what steps can one small family in the middle of California's Central Valley take to contribute less to the problem? It seems that with our "average American" lifestyle, what we can do right out of the gate is simply not enough.

Here's the beginning of our own efforts. With the U.N. report calling global warming "unstoppable," just what can we do?

A Beginning

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 05:00:00 GMT

Just a quick episode, recorded to make sure I can still remember how to do this. Don't listen for anything too exciting, though... this one is merely a recap of my Top 10 Albums for 2006.

In fact, consider this one only a 10-minute sound check.

More interesting stuff will be coming. I promise. -- ft