MOLI VIEW™

Are the subjects of politics and religion taboo at your holiday gatherings? Discussions at the dinner table can get hot and bothered, especially if you're at a big table with three or four generations of family members. Especially if there are relatives from the country and relatives from the city. And especially if there's a niece or nephew who's been studying sociology or a grandfather who wants to steer the whole family back to his political party.

For those of you who will be sitting down at the family table for Thanksgiving dinner, have you thought about what you might talk about this year? There are safe subjects that will keep your lovely holiday party from falling into a shambles. I've got two safe bets, and an area to avoid at all costs.

SUBJECT: Weather

This is not boring. This is not a cop-out. There is plenty to talk about, and this topic could get you right through the first half of dinner. There's the cyclone in Bangladesh, wind and fire in California, and the likelihood that an earthquake could shake their neighborhoods.

WARNING: Someone may mention Al Gore. And then watch out! Your brother-in-law will mention the Vice-President's film, The Inconvenient Truth (aka, "The Scariest Movie of the Summer"). Or, your cousin could start ticking off the facts about Gore's electoral votes in the 2000 presidential election. This is politics and a red flag for you, and you must act immediately.

SAVE THE DAY: Take a breath, and say: "Please pass the cranberries. Did you know Tipper Gore plays the drums? Aren't drums great? Is Max Weinberg touring with Springsteen now? He's got some great gigs — nightly on Conan's show, and touring with Bruce. Lucky guy. Mm, these cranberries are great. Not too sweet."

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