Fred's Front Porch Podcast

"To be or not to be, Mr. Eder?  I choose to be." Public education was once a proud calling.  It has changed significantly.  How?  Listen to find out. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2023/03/05/the-fall-of-public-education/ Please support Speedy Shine and me on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch or... https://patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch?utm_me...

Trigger Warning:  This episode contains the offscreen injury of animals.  This upsets people more than the deaths of humans.  If that's too upsetting for you, you might want to skip this. Why are we more concerned with animals than we are human beings?  We'll examine that question tonight when we consider the problem of Homeless Encampments being evacuated by the police. Here's...

There are ethical concerns about using AI to create Art.  I'm addressing those in this episode. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2023/02/19/artificial-intelligence-and-art/ Support The Smelly Old Man on Patreon and get a Speedy Shine sticker, early access to the show, and a thank you every week on the air: https://www.patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch or https://patreon.com/Freds...

This podcast is different from most others.  This is everything you need to know about the show, its creator, and how it's created. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2023/02/12/freds-front-porch-podcast-primer/ Get a Speedy Shine Sticker by supporting a Smelly Old Man and his Good Boy here: https://www.patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch or... https://patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch?u...

Speedy Shine took over the studio when I was sleeping one afternoon.  He wrote and produced the shortest episode of my career. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2023/02/05/500-words-from-speedy-shine/ For more Speedy Shine episodes in the future, you'll want to subscribe to my Patreon.  That's where they'll be. https://www.patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch or... https://patre...

This week I'm featuring another excellent writer.  Shoshana Edwards has an understanding of humanity that is rare and refreshing to find.  Most of the words you'll read or hear tonight are hers, not mine. The transcript is here.   https://frededer.home.blog/2023/01/29/shoshana-writes/ It includes links to her books and her Patreon page. Get a Speedy Shine sticker on The Smelly Old M...

This is both the story of my journey to see Aaron Sorkin's adaptation of "To Kill A Mockingbird," and a discussion of the value of the update he did.  Had anyone else tried it, I would have been furious.  In Sorkin's hands, I learned something new.  If you would like to learn that... listen to this. Or... You can read it below: https://frededer.home.blog/2023/01/22/bob-ewell-fell-on...

In the exciting finale to The Teddy Bear Coder, the Artificial Superintelligence begins its reign.  Is this a good thing or a bad thing?  Do humans become its slaves, or does it set us free from the oligarchy?  Find out here on Fred's Front Porch Podcast. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2023/01/15/the-teddy-bear-coder-part-5/ Support me on Patreon so I can continue...

The FBI agent's sanity comes into question when he claims to have seen a Teddy Bear who hacked all the computers.  The family's Defense Attorney talks to Teddy, who has a warning for all of us. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/?p=1470 Please consider supporting me on Patreon.  You get your episodes early and commercial - free.  You also get to help me pay my rent, a...

In Part 3, Jack gets his wish for Christmas just before the Zephyr family has to deal with a visit from someone who is decidedly NOT St. Nicholas. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2023/01/01/the-teddy-bear-coder-part-3/ Support me on Patreon to get rid of the commercials: https://patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creat...

With only a week to go before Christmas, Teddy and Jack manage to cost Martin his job. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2022/12/25/the-teddy-bear-coder-2/ Get rid of these stupid commercials by supporting me on Patreon: https://patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link or... https...

This is Part One of my latest science fiction story.  By the end of the story, I hope to show you my Idealism in full bloom.  Can a Teddy Bear change the world? Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2022/12/18/the-teddy-bear-coder/ Please support me on Patreon to get rid of the stupid commercials: https://patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=...

Wouldn't the world be a better place if we all recognized that we are all sharing a ride on a rock tumbling through space?  We all have the same birthplace: Earth.  People are not better or worse based on where they were born.  None of us chose even to BE born, let alone where, when, or to whom. This is the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/?p=1404 Support me on Patreon to get...

The shooting and Club Q is another tragic example of the power of words to cause violence.  We can change this. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2022/12/04/club-q-and-tolerance/ Support me on Patreon for cool merchandise and early commercial-free access: https://www.patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch or https://patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source...

Violence occurs only when our use of words fails us.  Courage is the ability to avoid violence when you desperately want to use it. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2022/11/27/violence-is-the-tool-of-the-intellectually-ineffective/ Please support me on Patreon to get rid of the commercials and get some fun merchandise for free: https://patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch?utm_medium...

I wrote this before the Midterm Elections, without knowing their results.  There is no doubt that we all have different feelings about them.  I am hoping we can find it within ourselves to remember that we are The UNITED States.  We can put aside our disagreements and come together to solve our shared problems, regardless of our feelings. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home...

This one is purely personal.  It's the story of my trip to the hospital, my surgery, and my escape with the help of Sherlock, The Mystery Patron, whose identity had been a mystery to me for so long.  Speedy Shine plays a big part in this, and several of the People on The Porch came through for me, too. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/?p=1343 Please support me on Patreon...

I hope you either have voted already, or that you're planning to do it on November 8.  It often seems like a lot of effort for something far too small to matter.  It is, however, your most important duty as a citizen.    Many people have fought and died for your right to cast your ballot, and this time Democracy, itself, is up for grabs.  If you don't vote in this election...

We have the resources to provide everyone on the planet enough to live.  Doing so would significantly reduce greed and essentially eliminate poverty.  Money has outlived its function in our world.  Yes, today I still need it, and so does everyone else.  A world without it, though, is possible.   Take a trip through your own Imagination. Here's the transcript: https://frede...

The Prosecutor returns to explain why I'm wrong to consider an incredibly kind offer someone made me.  Speedy Shine has a cameo appearance as well.   Without some form of Universal Basic Income, I am essentially doomed to live a life dependent on others.  That's not a life I want to live.  Speedy Shine keeps me from bringing it to a close.   Here's the transcript: https://...

We move closer to an authoritarian dictatorship nearly every day.  There are those who think we are already there, but I disagree.  I believe there is still time to make a difference. Can we still stop the Arrival of Gilead? Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2022/10/09/approaching-gilead/ Please support the show on Patreon.  It makes a difference. https://patreon.com...

This is a follow up to last week's episode.  I'm obviously living in less than ideal circumstances.  I'm dependent upon many people just to survive.  How do I make that work?  That's tonight's episode. Here's the transcript. https://frededer.home.blog/2022/10/02/surviving-dependency-and-poverty/ I could use your help on Patreon if you can afford it.  Here's the link: https...

Willy Loman and I are roughly the same age, and we are both used up.  I have more in common with Arthur Miller's protagonist than I would have hoped.  This is an exploration of societal and personal tragedy. Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/2022/09/25/willy-loman-and-me/ Help change the world.  Join The People on The Porch on Patreon: https://patreon.com/Freds_Front...

Evidently the quickest way to make both sides angry is to suggest peace.  When I posted this on Patreon, and when I posted it on my blog, both sides told me there was no way they would make peace with the other side.  I'm not sure many people even listened to or read what you're about to hear before they decided peace was unthinkable.  And that's the thinking that is going to keep u...

s it possible the Teacher Shortage is intentional? Here's the transcript: https://frededer.home.blog/?p=1220 Please support me on Patreon.  I could really use the help.  Retired teachers have very little money on which to live. https://www.patreon.com/Freds_Front_Porch