via Atrios, NPR has decided to edit Snowball and his "dangerous game" out of David Sedaris's Santaland Diaries on
This American Life, a pasage that has been playing for twelve years. See below the fold for the redacted portions. The socio-political conflicts over gay representation continue.
The overall cutest elf is a fellow from Queens named Snowball. Snowball tends to ham it up with the children, sometime literally tumbling down the path to Santa's house. I tend to frown on that sort of behavior but Snowball is hands down adorable -- you want to put him in your pocket. Yesterday we worked together as Santa Elves and I became excited when he started saying things like, "I'd follow you to Santa's house any day, Crumpet!"
It made me dizzy, this flirtation.
By mid-afternoon I was running into walls. At the end of our shift we were in the bathroom, changing clothes, when suddenly we were surrounded by three Santas and five other elves -- all of them were guys that Snowball was flirting with.
Snowball just leads elves on, elves and Santas. He is playing a dangerous game.
All I can really say is: Oh, for fuck's sake.