Fingering the Democracy

Hosts Beck and Dash chat through tech frustrations and changing internet/IT, early home computing memories (AOL dial-up costs, Commodore 64, Carmen Sandiego, Number Munch, Oregon Trail, typing skills), and odd public moments (a classmate farting in a lab, an ROTC student’s loud burp, quirky neighbor small talk, a neighbor’s unsolicited diet comment). They share affirming messages from former students, including one crediting a queer professor for helping him come out and a trans student entering a funded PhD program. The conversation turns to political conspiracy chatter and media/ideology theory, then to housing costs and mobility barriers, job applications, and fatigue. They note Cincinnati creating Ohio’s first LGBTQ+ commission and mention an Appalachian-origin anti-discrimination code. A comedic “Stone Soup” sponsor bit leads into cooking memories, and the episode’s “noun of Appalachian interest” spotlights West Virginia dancer Jesco White (“The Dancing Outlaw”) and reflections on hillbilly media, names, and family history. Send us mail at [email protected] us on Facebook or Instagram at @QueernecksSubscribe to out newsletter for the Queernecks ramble expansion pack: https://substack.com/@queernecksAnd join our discord by joining our Ko-Fi for $2 a month: https://ko-fi.com/queernecks00:00 Podcast Welcome00:17 Tech Degree Throwback01:15 Computer Lab Fart Story02:10 OCD Public Bathroom Fear03:20 Dial Up Rural Internet06:24 Early PCs And Games08:34 Typing Skills And Neuropathy11:11 Campus Burp And Student Email13:46 Weird Neighbor Small Talk16:32 Neighbor Diet Comment17:43 Trump Shooting Conspiracies21:39 Jordan Klepper And Ideology25:54 War On Christmas Bits28:22 Year Round Holiday Lights30:46 Housing Costs And Moving Trap32:26 Taxes And Boots Theory33:27 Leaving Home After Loss34:30 Cincinnati LGBTQ Commission Tease35:03 Cincinnati LGBTQ Commission35:31 Urban Appalachian Discrimination37:30 Queer Appalachian Migration39:28 Burnout and Job Market41:44 Stone Soup Sponsor Bit44:56 Ramen Abomination Cooking50:53 Jesco White Spotlight55:21 Family Names and Politics01:02:24 Homecoming and Finals01:04:28 Internet Privacy and Ads01:07:38 Wrap Up and Tech Issues