(no subject)

Soon in these United States there will be votes to determine who will lead their political parties in the upcoming election for President of the United States. Leaving aside all of the non-USians who will be looking over your collective shoulders after you vote to see if you're going to give them sighs of relief or fearful shudders, I have something important I want to discuss with you: your vote.

Right now the contest is not to see who will actually be elected President. That comes later. We're voting to see who we feel best represents us in our interests, who we feel will lead our country moving forward.

Pollsters have already made their long-term projections about who will win these contests and why they feel they should win and so on. They get paid to talk. This is pretty nice work if you can get it, I admit. That said, partisan pollsters usually aren't trying to give you fair and unbiased information, and there's not too many pollsters lacking bias. They have an agenda.

I know some people say, "Well, I like this candidate, but I don't think they have a snowball's chance in my hot tub of winning, so I'm going to vote for this other candidate because I figure they have a chance."

This is exactly the wrong time to do that.

This is the time to make your voice heard as to who you feel would be *best* - not most popular, *best*. Don't play against the partisan pollsters. They are paid to do this and they think about it every day. You are not, and unless you're a serious policy wonk you don't.

I have my own candidates I think highly of, but that's not important here. Go with who you feel is best. You'll have plenty of time to worry about electability later.

On a different note

The time has come for the annual Selling of the Girl Scout Cookies. This is a ritual I've cherished since I was small, since it means some tasty yummy cookies. Yes, it also happens to help the Girl Scouts, and organization I think well of, but that's usually been a lower concern than COOKIES! OK, nobody's accused me of being the brightest bulb in the socket when it comes to food. Most years when I've had any sort of money to spare I've bought at least a couple of boxes. This year I looked at a co-worker's pledge sheet for her daughter's cookie drive and read the ingredients list.

Every single cookie has high-fructose corn syrup.

While it breaks my heart to do it, I will not be buying any Girl Scout cookies this year. I *should* be good and donate part of the money I'd otherwise spend to the Girl Scouts, but I'm feeling a bit pinched in the wallet right now. I can't do much. Ask me when I'm smiling.

To the Girl Scouts of America, I will be extremely happy to buy your cookies again when the HFCS is removed from the ingredients list. Next year, please?

To my friends who have daughters in the Girl Scouts, I do wish you well with the fundraising. If you can, please see if you can talk with the national organization about changing this one little ingredient for next year. Nothing special, just a quick note, that's really all I'm asking, and only if you think it would be a good idea to change that one ingredient.

Damn I'm gonna miss those Thin Mints.

Filk: Thing Called Filk (sung to Thing Called Love, Bonnie Raitt)

I might perform this at some Filk 101 panel somewhere. Feel free to do likewise.


I ain't writing bout current events
I like the Addams dear Thing
Baby, I'll sing about the Queen of Sheba
We may not even have our dignity,
this could be just a wonderful thing
Baby what's for lunch? I think I'll munch some amoebas

Are you ready for the thing called filk?
Don't come from Muses, no
it comes from chocolate milk
I ain't no popstar dressed
in PVC and silk
Are you ready for the thing called filk?

I ain't singing bout affairs of the heart
Unless it's out on a spaceship
Baby, I'm talking hyperspace and jump gates
I ain't singing bout sports like football or baseball
I'm singing Unicorn Leapfrog
Baby, that's gonna hurt in the morning!

Are you ready for the thing called filk?
Don't come from Muses, comes
from snorting chocolate milk
I ain't no popstar dressed
in PVC and silk
Are you ready for the thing called filk?

BRIDGE:
Heroes can come from unlikely places
And end up deep in your heart
Come on and listen to my kitty song
Just laugh, who cares if it's art.

CHORUS OUTRO:
Are you ready for the thing called filk
Don't come from Muses,
comes from splorting chocolate milk
I ain't no popstar dressed
in PVC and silk

Are you ready for it
Are you ready for the thing called filk
Don't come from muses,
comes from kittening your milk
I ain't no popstar, no
I'd like to wear silk

Are you ready for it
Are you ready for filk, baby
Oooh yeah babe
Are you ready for this thing called filk?

(to the guitar/drum at the end)
(spoken) You know, I could wear silk if I wanted. Or maybe some hot PVC pants. Of course, on me, it might be a favor I'm in jeans. No, really.