In a cheap ploy to cash in on that Pirates of the Caribbean box office, we've gone out of our way to work pirates into this week's podcast. A federal government offical unveils a new plan for the National Portrait Gallery. ANd comic Steve Hoffstedder describes a run-in at an airport. LESS

We travel forward in time to visit the new president. It turns out, he's out of ideas, but never at a loss for words. Trish Cooper explains the dark side of giving. We follow some artists-turned-soldiers for a bloody but aesthetically pleasing battle mission. And it turns out the cure for Canada's health system is product placement (and Eurotrash.) LESS

Not much to make fun of this week. Ontario banned cell phones while driving. That's about it....Oh, and the Americans picked a black president. We should probably do something about that. LESS

What's more frightening than Halloween? An American election, the economy, Madonna? (Shiver) The comedy factory podcast may not be spookier than those, but it is scary funny. We check out this year's hot costumes, explore Madonna's past, ask 10-year-olds about the current financial mess and ring the bell at 24 Sussex Drive. LESS