Weinstein, Spacey, We’ve Seen It All Before: Surely, You Must Be Joking Dr. Fleming?, Episode 7
In this episode of Surely, You Must Be Joking Dr. Fleming?, we discuss Dr. Fleming’s response to the accusations of sexual misconduct of Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, et al. He thinks it’s not much of a story at all.
Original Air Date: November 13, 2017
Show Run Time: 41 minutes
Show Guest(s): Dr. Thomas Fleming
Show Host(s): Stephen Heiner
Surely, You Must Be Joking Dr. Fleming?℗ is a Production of the Fleming Foundation. Copyright 2017. All Rights are Reserved.
Dr. Fleming with that “Out of the Past” mention! Splendid!
And yes, Jane Greer was, perhaps humorously, almost the polar opposite of her femme fatale character from that grandest of film noirs, forfeiting her career rather than disgrace herself.
Going through the statistical realities of homosexuality and sexual assaulting of children, of the disproportionate amount of black crime (sometimes it seems as though the term “per capita” is to a trendy lefty what the crucifix was to Dracula), and the sordid history of Hollywood, this was an immensely entertaining and colorful podcast.
Dr. Fleming, if I may ask on behalf of my mother and father, is there any advice you might wish to give to Americans who are looking to live in Italy in their twilight years? My father is not quite fluent in Italian but for an American, he speaks the language somewhat decently. Fortunately he took a keen interest at a young age while becoming an art history professor.
Catching up with your writings from the past few weeks. Sounds like you had a lovely time.
Thanks for your kind words. I was still a bit dazed when we did the podcast but I am happy it was not too dreadful.
As for your parents, I am passing beyond my twilight years into what many would consider darkness, but I find Italy a second home. It is a question my wife and I discuss repeatedly. We like Sicily a great deal, but their are logistical problems getting on and off an island. I am very fond of Lombardia and also Ferrara and Ravenna, but the weather is not so good in the Winter. Lately we are thinking of Umbria/Le Marche.
There are so many elements to the question. For example, with limited Italian, one might be reluctant to go to Abruzzo, but, on the other hand, Tuscany is filled with pleasure-seeking Brits and Yanks. It’s not that they’re not nice people, for the most part, but why go to Italy to hang out with Americans. We are thinking, on the whole, that in the next few years w’ll alternate between Umbria and Sicily, with some time in Milan and Rome where we know people. Big cities have great opportunities to see things, and small towns are charming for everyday life. My own thought is that middle-sized towns–Lucca, Arezzo, Pisa, Perugia, Spoleto–give enough things to do and places to eat to avoid boredom, and, if they are on a good trainline (like Arezzo), day trips or weekends are quite easy.
There is a message facility on this website, and if you send me a message I can respond. Some depends on vitality and mobility, though I suspect your Golden Years parents are a bit younger than I am. I strongly suggest that they go to one or another place for 3-5 weeks before making any decision. The great mistake is to spend too much time traveling to places, rather than being in one place.
Thank you Mr. Heiner and Dr. Fleming. I haven’t heard this type of honesty in the airways or posted on electronic bulletin boards since the BBC tried to interview Evelyn Waugh. Even the follow up question and answer of how to possibly enjoy what is left of European culture in retirement was insightful and enjoyable. Personally I think this type of conversation, like poetry, has no audience today or hardly any audience, which makes it all the more valuable when the crowds begin to disperse and ordinary life resumes its normal course. I assume most of the Fleming Foundation readers are past asking that stupid question, “What good is that for?” when remembering a good conversation from years ago, some delightful truth discovered just yesterday, or the days in the lives of their children’s children. Thank you again for this most worthless but most valuable treasure in honest dialogue.
Dr. Fleming, thank you so very much for the thorough reply and truly helpful advice on behalf of my parents.
Completely understand what you mean about not seeing the point in hanging out with Americans. It may be cheerful to spend the odd afternoon with some Americans every few weeks but then again perhaps not. (A Californian of today must continually remind himself that not all Americans are so hopeless.) My father has been investigating Umbria so he will warmly receive your thoughts. Mid-sized locations serving a proverbial best of both worlds also sounds right.
Having read your writings for many years I had a reasonably good idea of how much you love Italy, otherwise I could not have asked.
I fear I must confess to my almost laughable ignorance of this website in spite of consuming as much content as I can, for I am in dire need of directions to the Fleming Foundation’s message facility.
Thanks once more.
I think I can send you a direct message and will try. Otherwise, go to the top of the page and to the far right, where there is a rubric “About US’ with a dropdown menu that includes Contact us.”
A few stray thoughts: Todi is very nice, but there is a fairly strong English/American colony. Of course one does not wish to avoid English-speakers entirely, only the pensioners and colonists who isolate themselves and spend a good deal of time complaining about the laziness and dishonesty of Italians. Urbino in Le Marche is quite nice but difficult to reach without a car. Of course, that is also part of its charm, though the student presence can be annoying.
Dr. Fleming: You love Italy very much, obviously know the country very well and can speak the language very fluently. Since you have gone there for 27 years now have you ever given it thought to ex- patriating it out of here?
True, the US isn’t perfect. Where is there perfection?
I find happiness in little things. I like to vacate the urban area and go to the State Parks. Two years ago my daughter and I climbed 700 feet to the top of Acadia mountain in Maine. We climbed boulders, worked our way through crevices between boulders, slid down others to reach our destination. The view was exhilarating. I wish I could send you the picture I have once we reached the top.
I am not in my golden years but looking toward darkness. I am 5 feet 1 inch tall, weigh 105 lbs. and am 81. I climbed that mountain when I was 79 and I would have done it again this year if the circumstances permitted.