(Warning: May not be safe for work or children)

I have met many people through this job: politicians, pundits, journalists and other movers and shakers. Some people I've met make little impression, some I've written off as self-interested above all else. And then there are people you get to know who you just wish you could call a friend in real life.

Lizz Winstead is the latter. I cannot tell you how much I want to tell you that Lizz and I are BFFs. She is simply one of the warmest, funniest, most genuine people I've met through the blogosphere. Blue Gal and Driftglass were lucky enough to meet her at Netroots Nation last year and can confirm just how great she is. As a matter of fact, Lizz kindly offered to let me couchsurf at her place to join them--based on nothing but our single degree of separation of John Amato--but I was stuck at home with the kids.

However, I'm going to boost my degree of separation by one by hosting a book chat on Lizz's new book "Lizz Free or Die" this Thursday, May 3, at 11:00 am Pacific/ 2:00 pm Eastern. The book is a collection of autobiographical essays on finding her voice, confronting and questioning the institutions of her upbringing and finding humor in it all. Lizz's sense of humor and sharp political wit has enabled her to reshape the national dialog as the co-creator and former head writer of The Daily Show and one of the founding voices on the late, lamented Air America and the Unfiltered show, with Chuck D and Rachel Maddow. You can catch her now regularly on The Ed Show on MSNBC.

Lizz's book will be released May 10 and she'll be here to answer your questions on Thursday. Mark your calendars.