Just tell conservatives to go take a shower

A report on studies linking the "ick factor" to conservatism:

People who squirm at the sight of bugs or are grossed out by blood and guts are more likely to be politically conservative, new studies find.

In particular, the squeamish are more apt to have conservative attitudes about gays and lesbians.

Lots of other research has tied politics to biology and behavior. Some quick background:

* A study last year found that when people feel physically clean, they are less judgmental.
* Another study found that political conservatives tend to be tidy, with organized offices, but liberals favor colorful, more stylish but cluttered spaces.
* Political views are driven by religion, culture and even biology, other research has shown.
* A large, global study in 2007 concluded that political preference is 50 percent genetic.

So, next time some conservative tells me they don't like gays, or abortions, I'm going to tell them they'll feel better about them if they can only get clean enough.

Consumer recall info

I just found a great site for keeping up on recall information - really good if you want to know if there has been trouble with some big ticket item you might be interested in!

US Recall News

OK, that was fun

Last night at Drinking Liberally, Goldy asked if I wanted to participate in the podcast that they do, talking about current events. I can't help it, my curiosity gets the better of me every time, so I said 'OK, I guess so.'

You can find the resulting podcast here.

I don't sound totally idiotic, but you can tell I'm not used to talking for broadcast...too many longish pauses while I try to think of something coherent to say! But I have to admit, that was sort of fun. Though I'm glad McKenna was there too.

translator

So, I understand that on Monday, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, Mitt Romney was running around in a parade, pressing flesh and kissing babies, as politicians do.

Mitt Romney was greeted warmly by a largely African-American crowd at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Parade in Jacksonville. He shook hands with several dozen parade-goers and even hugged a few of them.
...
“Who let the dogs out?” he called out, as he stood there beaming in his shirt and tie. “Who! Who!”

I understand that he also referred to a little kid's necklace as "bling bling."

From the script of the 1980 movie Airplane, I declare that what Mitt needs is a "jive translator":

Jivemn2 : Mnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Attndnt : Can I get you something?
Jivemn2 : S'mo fo butter layin' to the bone. Jackin' me up.
Tightly.
Attndnt : I'm sorry I don't understand.
Jivemn1 : Cutty say he cant hang.
Woman4 : Oh stewardess, I speak jive.
Attndnt : Ohhhh, good.
Woman4 : He said that he's in great pain and he wants to know if you can help him.
Attndnt : Would you tell him to just relax and I'll be back as soon as I can with some medicine.
Woman : Jus' hang loose blooood. She goonna catch up on the rebound a de medcide.
Jivemn2 : What it is big mamma, my mamma didn't raise no dummy, I dug her rap.
Woman4 : Cut me som' slac' jak! Chump don wan no help, chump don git no help. Jive ass dude don got no brains anyhow.

In this case, I think the "jive ass dude don got no brains" would be Willard.

friday photo blogging

Funny graffiti. It would be interesting to know where this is, how widespread it is.