Welcome to the Judge John Hodgman podcast. I'm Bill of Jesse Thorne this week in

photo parentis. James brings the case against his wife Morgan. James put up some photos of the

extended family in their home. Morgan wants him to take them down. They can go

back up in 20 years when the couple is closer to grandparent age.

Who's right, who's wrong? Only one can decide. Please rise as Judge John Hodgman enters the courtroom and presents an obscure cultural reference.

This absence of people should be and feel unnatural and place the scene in a clear limbo.

Liminality in this way naturally draws on other concepts,

although only pertaining to physical people,

the concept of kennopsia defines well the kind of emptiness we seek

pertaining to the surreal atmosphere of an empty place usually populated by people.

This ties in with the abstract transition

of a place being between uses.

Bail if Jesse Thorne, please swear the litigants in.

James Morgan, please rise and raise your right hands.

Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth,

and nothing but the truth so help you God or whatever?

I do.

Do. You swear to abide by Judge John Hodgman's ruling despite the fact that he doesn't show up in photographs like some kind of dang Dracula.

I do.

It's not true.

It's not true.

Judge Hodgman, you may proceed. It's not true. Anyone can. Judge Hodgman, you may proceed.

...