Put on some headphones. Ijs. Is everyone else cleaning also?

Hi, Fiona and Cindy! Good to see you both!

I can't stand podcasts and I wish I liked them. Listening to someone read when I can't see their face bothers me. I have to concentrate hard to hear the words and put them together into meaning, and my mind drifts away mid-sentence. Also I can read faster than anyone can talk and I feel like it slows my brain down. Plus the sheer annoyance of someone "umm"ing and stumbling, and laughing and chatter in the background making it hard to hear.

So, yeah... I'm not sure why you see me as a centrist (and I'm not arguing that you're wrong, so much as wondering why you see me that way). I'd just like to know what led you to that conclusion.

It's funny, but a lot of your stated positions are very Hillary! (Outside of the war thing, where I believe she gets painted as a lot more hawkish than she actually is, given that even her support of the resolution that got us into the mess was worded very strongly in favor of the whole "only as a last resort should diplomatic solutions fail us") Who also gets painted as a centrist!

Possibly because she's about pragmatic, sustainable change? Like losing 1-2lbs a week vs. a crash diet?

Also,

I abandoned that position (in favor of full marriage equality) probably 5 or more years ago, because I realized (and admitted to myself) that my own biases were informing my understanding of marriage, but I knew same-sex couples who fully embodied the best of what marriage can be. I'm ashamed of my past self, now. Love is love, dang it.

This is pretty similar to her path.

I only listen to podcasts when I'm walking and/or on public transit. I almost never watch online video.

In case you were all wondering where I stood on this important issues to our time!

ION, I just interviewed someone who currently works at a consulting firm making about what I do, with way (WAY) less experience. So maybe I'm going to check that out. Her role, at least, sounded like a ton of driving, so that would be a problem, but still.

That sounds potentially exciting, Jesse!

I hardly ever listen to podcasts. I think because I can't concentrate on them while working, and I'm rarely in the car long enough to listen to a full one?

I don't even know if I would want to work for a consulting firm like that, but it is an option that had kind of fallen off my radar. I have GOT to figure out my next move!

Also I can read faster than anyone can talk and I feel like it slows my brain down. Plus the sheer annoyance of someone "umm"ing and stumbling, and laughing and chatter in the background making it hard to hear

This! I realized I read by some sort of gestalt method, recognizing the entire word rather than interpreting the collection of letters. Waiting for someone to sound out a word and matching it to my verbal database in order to follow a story is endlessly frustrating. When I'm talking to someone in a conversation, I can generally predict the pattern of their thoughts and am tracking the words to provide confirmation.

It would be catastrophic to try to listen to a podcast or audio book while I drive, it would take far too much concentration.

I only listen to podcasts when I'm walking and/or on public transit. I almost never watch online video.

Same.

I think of podcasts a lot like radio. I like the intimacy of the voice in my ear. It's not a great way for me to retain information, so they wouldn't be my first way of getting information, but I like them to tell me a story.

And rapid topic change...

Work related email composition question: I am writing to Ministries in other provinces asking them how they handle a particular issue. When I have only a general inquiries email address, is "Dear Sir or Madam" the best way to begin the email?

For me, podcasts are perfect for commuting, cooking and cleaning. I like being able to listen to them when I can't read. Most of my favorites have already been listed above, so this is just a token "me too!"

Also I can read faster than anyone can talk and I feel like it slows my brain down. Plus the sheer annoyance of someone "umm"ing and stumbling, and laughing and chatter in the background making it hard to hear

This is also me. Adding in auditory processing issues, and podcasts are very much Not For Me. Although I managed to listen to a NFL-centered one on my commute last year, but it was only 15 minutes, and the podcaster was very slick, so he used very few filler words.