FILE - In this July 26, 2009 file photo, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gestures during her resignation speech in Fairbanks, Alaska. Palin is taking her conservative message to Fox News. An attorney for the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate says Palin will provide some type of commentary for the cable network. (AP Photo/Al Grillo, File)

Pig posse: It seems all the Republicans running in Iowa want to cut pork barrel spending.

But one group simply wants to cut the pork. That’s PETA – People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA’s pig posse will be hot on the heels of the Republican candidates with signs that read: Cut the Pork: Tax Meat.

The PETA porkers will point out the crowds at caucus campaign events that meat consumption has been linked to some of America’s top killers, such as heart disease and cancer. According to the American Dietetic Association, vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity than meat-eaters. So meat-eaters are driving health-care costs through the roof, according to PETA, which says vegetarians are picking up sick meat-eaters’ tabs through high taxes and health-insurance premiums.

PETA wants meat taxed at 10 cents per pound to offset its staggering costs, just as alcohol, tobacco, gasoline, and other items are subject to a “sin tax.” The revenue from the meat tax could be spent on promoting a naturally low-fat, heart-healthy vegan diet.

Political playlist: Since 1972, the Iowa first-in-the-nation precinct caucuses have been the first major electoral event of the nominating process for president.

Now they’re getting a 21^st Century treatment from MentorMob.com, which also offers “how-to” guides for brewing beer, fantasy basketball, healthy eating, buying a wedding dress and writing a resume.

MentorMob.com organizes the best content on the web in playlist form, so Iowans can use the social media trend to quickly make an informed decision. The playlist explains the roots of the 2012 Iowa Caucus. It taps a variety of sources, including IowaCaucus.com, to provide information from candidates’ websites, YouTube videos and more.

MentoMob.com says its goal is to provide information about each candidate’s goals and viewpoints in an unbiased fashion.

Sarah Palin

President Obama

Palin tops Obama: She’s not running for president, at least not yet, but Sarah Palin topped President Obama in one race. According to Yahoo! Inc., Palin was the top political search of 2011. Obama was the second-most searched politician.

With Michele Bachmann, Gabrielle Giffords and Hillary Clinton at three through five, women accounted for of the top five politician searches this year, Yahoo! said.

In addition to Bachmann, four other GOP presidential hopefuls cracked the top 10: Herman Cain, Ron Paul and Rick Perry at six through eight, respectively, and Romney at No. 10.

FYI, the top search term of 2011 didn’t go to a person or a news event, but to a technological marvel: the iPhone.

On the calendar:

Dec. 31

Rick Perry, 10:30 a.m., Bloomers at Central Coffee Shop, Fort Dodge; 12:45 p.m., Dutch Oven Bakery, Boone

Newt Gingrich, 9 a.m., Tish’s Restaurant, Council Bluffs; 1:30 p.m., Atlantic Bottling, Atlantic

Mitt Romney, 3:30 p.m., Family Table Restaurant, Le Mars 5:35 p.m., Stoney Creek Inn, Sioux City

Jan. 1

Newt Gingrich, noon, West Towne Pub, Ames; 2 p.m., Junction Sports Bar, Marshalltown; 4:30 p.m., LJs Neighborhood Bar, Waterloo

Mitt Romney, 2:15 p.m., Family Table Restaurant, Atlantic; 5:05 p.m., Bayliss Park Hall, Council Bluffs

Jan. 2

Mitt Romney, 8:10 a.m., Davenport, TBA; 11:50 a.m., Dubuque, TBA; 4 p.m., Pate Asphalt, 285 3rd Ave.  Marion 8:30 p.m., Des Moines, TBA

Newt Gingrich, 9 a.m., Heartland Acres Agribition Center, Independence; noon, Schrader Excavating and Grading, Walford; 5:30 p.m., tele-town hall from Davenport

Rick Perry, 12:30 p.m., Stoney Creek Inn, Sioux City; 4 p.m., Santa Maria Vineyard, Carroll; Hotel Pattee, Perry

Jan. 3

Mitt Romney, 8:10 a.m., Des Moines, TBA; 8:45 p.m., caucus night event, Hotel Fort Des Moines

Ron Paul, 7 p.m., caucus night rally, Courtyard, Ankeny

Rick Perry, 1 p.m., Principal Financial Group employee town hall, Des Moines; 7 p.m., caucus night event, Sheraton West, West Des Moines