The 2008 Presidential Elections are over!

Thank God!

You know, while I’m happy with the outcome, it had gotten to a point where I didn’t care who won just so long as all of the friggin attack commercials and stupid snail mailings would stop.

See, my theory is that few candidates actually have a plan to make things better, but they want to get elected because, well, it’s a paid gig. So, they flood our mailboxes and TVs with crap in an effort to beat us into voting submission. We vote just to shut them the hell up.

Think about it. We get all of these mailing and see all of these commercials before the elections, but afterwards it’s like a media ghost town. Once these guys (and gals) get into office you hardly ever hear from them, and frankly, do you really care to hear from them?

I think that’s also part of their insidious plan; after being flooded with politics for more than year the average person is so relieved after first Tuesday in November that they don’t want to ever hear from elected officials again. Mention anything political in the wrong crowd and you’re liable to get beat down, not because of your party affiliation, but because you brought up politics in general. That leaves these elected people free to do whatever the heck they want, which is why so many wind up getting into trouble.

So, it’s over and, no matter how you voted (you DID vote, right?) we all can breathe a bit easier and settle into watching Heroes again.

Truth be told, some folks are feeling a bit let down by the Elections. Others are overjoyed. What everyone needs is a break. A mental reset.

Normally, when I need a mental reset I buy a six-pack of J.W. Dundee’s Honey Brown Lager and a large pepperoni pizza, then settle in to watch selected episodes of Firefly. (Out of Gas and The Train Job are my favs.) There’s another part of my mental reset ritual that you don’t need to know about, but afterwards I’m good to go for at least a few days.

To help you with your mental reset ritual, I offer several freebies on the iTunes Store that should go a ways towards helping you forget the Elections and get on with your life.

First up, Happy Slip.

"What’s a Happy Slip," you ask?

Cute as a button Christine of Happy Slip

I did too, and it turns out that there is a really good reason for the term, but I’ll let Christine, the host/blogger of Happy Slip tell it.

In fact, Christine won’t mind telling you everything about her and her family and friends. She does it so well that you can’t help but laugh, and she’s absolutely adorable. What’s not to like?

There are well over 40 Happy Slip episodes at the iTunes Store and all are a riot. I’m a fan and you will be too. Happy Slip, subscribe today at the iTunes Store.

Next up, Amazing The Lion

OK, this is weird. Imagine a perpetually peppy lion, a clinically depressed panda and an assortment of other odd animals hanging out in the woods along a busy highway on Long Island.

It’s kind of like Sesame Street meets Woody Allen.

It could happen.

This dysfunctional menagerie is the brainchild of Dan McNamara and Jeff Roos, and it’s about as strange as anything you’ll find.

Don’t expect much by way of animation. In fact, it’s horrible, but I think it’s suppose to be that way. The dialog is geared for adult audiences.

There only 3 episode so far on the iTunes Store and I hope more are on the way. This is some funny stuff.

OK, this next bit is bound to cheer you up.

If you know anything about podcasts then you are bound to know The Onion News Network is all about.

War for the Whitehouse as covered by The Onion

For those of you who are new to The Onion, please know that it’s the best faux-news network anywhere dedicated to bringing you the best up-to-the-minute hyperbole and no-news anywhere. It’s news you can depend on.

Now you can take The Onion with you to keep up on the latest in the world around you. The Onion News Network offers podcasts of key reports.

Watch the report on 12-year-old boy scouts who volunteer to give women breast exams, or the report on the aftermath of the Presidential Elections and how Obama supporters now have nothing to live for.

Reports like these you won’t find on CNN.

There are over 20 ONN video podcasts available. News as only The Onion can bring it.

So Bring it! The Onion News Network Podcast at the iTunes Store.

That’s a wrap for this week.

In case you haven’t had enough politics to last you for at least 3 lifetimes be aware that you can relive the high points of the debates and speeches with podcasts from the iTunes Store.

More free stuff below (with direct links):

Vern Seward is a writer who currently lives in Orlando, FL. He’s been a Mac fan since Atari Computers folded, but has worked with computers of nearly every type for 20 years.