I’ve been so busy doing boring sciencey things lately (writing, trying to convince my adviser that my data is valid, uhh…weeping) that I’ve neglected posting.

Specifically, posting a SHOUT OUT THANKS to world-famous and beloved Dave Dink of Chub Creek podcast (which can normally be found here, but thanks to massive downloading, has temporarily been moved here). Who, thanks to my vigilant stalking in his frappr chat room, gave me a shout out on his latest podcast. So everyone go download and listen to his latest podcast and “sqeeeee!” with delight when he mentions me. TWICE.

I have to say, though, that this most recent episode is not necessarily representative of most of his (and Gary’s) podcasts. usually, it’s original music and hilarious skits, but the latest one is a little more dark and somber, as delves a little into a Canadian’s perspective on America, the war, and the elections. So if you want the laughs and chuckles, download some of their older stuff. And try to ignore your co-workers stares when you burst out laughing for apparently no reason.

if you’ll notice on my links page (YOU KNOW YOU LOVE THE LITTLE BUTTONS! YOU KNOW YOU DO!), I have a section devoted to the podcasts I listen to. Chub Creek is there (if you are a knitting podcast listener, you are probably already familiar with Chub Creek. not that knitting is discussed, but it’s a favorite podcast of other knitting podcasters - Dave has some serious knitting fans.), along with some knitting podcasts, a foodie podcast, and…alot of npr (”wait…wait…don’t tell me” IN THE HIZZOOOUS!). Also sciencey podcasts that annoyingly don’t really have their own websites.

So! Go listen to Chub Creek, and then download some more podcasts, and then buy an iPod so that you can listen to the podcasts without being tied to your computer and then BECOME STEVE JOBS’ SLAVE LIKE THE REST OF US! JOOOOIN US! JOOOOOIN US!

*hugging my PC laptop for protection*

OK, better now.

To make a total left turn of a transition here, I thought I’d post the email Michael Moore just sent out to his email subscribers. It’s pretty interesting and entirely optimistic, but we can always dream, right?

To My Conservative Brothers and Sisters,

I know you are dismayed and disheartened at the results of last week’s election. You’re worried that the country is heading toward a very bad place you don’t want it to go. Your 12-year Republican Revolution has ended with so much yet to do, so many promises left unfulfilled. You are in a funk, and I understand.

Well, cheer up, my friends! Do not despair. I have good news for you. I, and the millions of others who are now in charge with our Democratic Congress, have a pledge we would like to make to you, a list of promises that we offer you because we value you as our fellow Americans. You deserve to know what we plan to do with our newfound power — and, to be specific, what we will do to you and for you.

Thus, here is our Liberal’s Pledge to Disheartened Conservatives:

Dear Conservatives and Republicans,

I, and my fellow signatories, hereby make these promises to you:

1. We will always respect you for your conservative beliefs. We will never, ever, call you “unpatriotic” simply because you disagree with us. In fact, we encourage you to dissent and disagree with us.

2. We will let you marry whomever you want, even when some of us consider your behavior to be “different” or “immoral.” Who you marry is none of our business. Love and be in love — it’s a wonderful gift.

3. We will not spend your grandchildren’s money on our personal whims or to enrich our friends. It’s your checkbook, too, and we will balance it for you.

4. When we soon bring our sons and daughters home from Iraq, we will bring your sons and daughters home, too. They deserve to live. We promise never to send your kids off to war based on either a mistake or a lie.

5. When we make America the last Western democracy to have universal health coverage, and all Americans are able to get help when they fall ill, we promise that you, too, will be able to see a doctor, regardless of your ability to pay. And when stem cell research delivers treatments and cures for diseases that affect you and your loved ones, we’ll make sure those advances are available to you and your family, too.

6. Even though you have opposed environmental regulation, when we clean up our air and water, we, the Democratic majority, will let you, too, breathe the cleaner air and drink the purer water.

7. Should a mass murderer ever kill 3,000 people on our soil, we will devote every single resource to tracking him down and bringing him to justice. Immediately. We will protect you.

8. We will never stick our nose in your bedroom or your womb. What you do there as consenting adults is your business. We will continue to count your age from the moment you were born, not the moment you were conceived.

9. We will not take away your hunting guns. If you need an automatic weapon or a handgun to kill a bird or a deer, then you really aren’t much of a hunter and you should, perhaps, pick up another sport. We will make our streets and schools as free as we can from these weapons and we will protect your children just as we would protect ours.

10. When we raise the minimum wage, we will pay you — and your employees — that new wage, too. When women are finally paid what men make, we will pay conservative women that wage, too.

11. We will respect your religious beliefs, even when you don’t put those beliefs into practice. In fact, we will actively seek to promote your most radical religious beliefs (”Blessed are the poor,” “Blessed are the peacemakers,” “Love your enemies,” “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,” and “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”). We will let people in other countries know that God doesn’t just bless America, he blesses everyone. We will discourage religious intolerance and fanaticism — starting with the fanaticism here at home, thus setting a good example for the rest of the world.

12. We will not tolerate politicians who are corrupt and who are bought and paid for by the rich. We will go after any elected leader who puts him or herself ahead of the people. And we promise you we will go after the corrupt politicians on our side FIRST. If we fail to do this, we need you to call us on it. Simply because we are in power does not give us the right to turn our heads the other way when our party goes astray. Please perform this important duty as the loyal opposition.

I promise all of the above to you because this is your country, too. You are every bit as American as we are. We are all in this together. We sink or swim as one. Thank you for your years of service to this country and for giving us the opportunity to see if we can make things a bit better for our 300 million fellow Americans — and for the rest of the world.

Signed,

Michael Moore
[email protected]
(Click here to sign the pledge)
www.michaelmoore.com

P.S. Please feel free to pass this on.

Sadie commands you to just “chill,” OK?