I know you know that I have been using my blog to improve my techno-skillage, right? So now I have a little techno challenge for you; can you help me support my friends Paige and Gretch at mommycast?

It will be fun.

Lesson time...a podcast is like a radio show except it is posted on the internet so that listeners can listen to it whenever they want. Since I am ipodless, I just go to their sight, click play, and then listen to their show while I'm reviewing deeds or whatever. Definitely makes the job more enjoyable. But the ipod blessed can do it the right way and subscribe to Mommycast through itunes and then download the shows to their ipod companions and listen to the shows anywhere. Wow, I totally sound like I know what I'm talking about don't I? You don't necessarily have to answer that.

Okay, see how that paragraph focused on the word "listen," that's actually the old news. The new thing is Mommycast videos. And I have to say, Paige and Gretch are super cute in their videos. Even cuter than I expected them to be, and I am their good friend. You should go watch them. It's funny. I love funny. Like when they dance in front of the green screen.

I'm back on topic! If we want more videos, and we do (because the more cool stuff they get to do, the more likely it is I'll get invited to come along, or meet someone famous-I already got to have my back and arm in one of the videos) then we need to vote for them on itunes. Give them a bazillion stars, or five. And leave positive comments. Please?

Here, I think, is how you do it. Go to itunes...oh, wait, wait, Paige and Gretchen explain it better than I will here. But if the link doesn't work for you, then go to your itunes account (If you don't have one you have to ask someone else how to get it, cause Maddie made mine. I am a baby tech, okay). Go to the itunes store and search "mommycast videos." Their page will come up with a place to subscribe, and even more importantly for my selfish purposes, leave a glowing comment! Please.

Remember I gave you "the cake?" Now you can do this for me.

Yes, that's right. I said digitally promiscuous! I learned about that and so much more at PodcampDC, the " 'unconference' focused on educating people on how to use, implement and share any/all new media tools including, podcasts, videocasts, blogs, Second Life, Facebook and YouTube."

Co-founded by Chris Penn, CTO at the Student Loan Network and Producer of the Financial Aid Podcast, PodcampDC was one of the best conferences that I have ever attended, and it was 100% free! Several PR/Marketing/New Media industry leaders presented on key topics such as:

- New Media Marketing, Chris Penn

- Attracting and Growing Your Audience, Mommycast

- Content Cross-Promotion, Jennifer Berk

- Powering Your Personal Network, Chris Penn and Dan Williams

- and many more

In addition to being surrounded by some extremely knowledgeable and successful new media pros, all of the speakers were truly down to earth and provided several great analogies to help participants understand their messages. Hands down, Chris Penn gets the best quotes of the day award:

"Social Networks are the new water cooler."

"It's okay to be digitally promiscuous." (Referring to LinkedIn)

Marketers don’t see it that way. They clamor for a chance to get a coveted mention on the program. In this interview, Paige and Gretchen tell how Mommycast got started, the secrets of staying focused and how they handle inquiries from marketers.

Download the podcast (28:54)

Mommycast I think really hit a home run with their podcast that provides experts in the field of child health care to inform listeners about topics they want to hear about and may not know anything about previously. Yes, the responses from the mommy’s are funny but at least they have very soothing (mommy) voices. It’s like a mommy sitcom on the internet. I feel like this information is extremely useful for first time parents and child care givers. I dig it... I also listened to Dawn and Drew who had a very different approach, much more free flowing, casual and a little zany. But none the less they have a huge following and are quite funny; they fit right into their niche. I took some time out of my day to listen the state of the union address on NPR as well. It was both painful and informative at the same time…. I can say I did enjoy it broadcast through NPR 100 times more than watching it on television. I do not want to get into the specifics of what Bush said but he defiantly back pedaled from platforms held in the past 7 years of his presidency, should have known!

Beyond Wait, Wait, I also love the other public radio news quiz show, What'dya Know; art and culture show Studio 360; and the acclaimed storytelling show This American Life. To me, public radio and Podcasting are a perfect match. Podcasting gives me the flexibility to listen to the shows whenever I want, since I absolutely never catch them in my car. Through my iPod, I can have the time to enjoy the shows and really listen.

Like Hoya, I have a few other non-public radio shows that I listen to on a regular basis. For the writer in me, I recently stumbled on Grammar Girl. She gives grammar tips quickly (5 minutes!) and with fun. If I had known that grammar could be so interesting, I might have listened in to my teachers back in school. Or, maybe Grammar Girl should've been my teacher!

My ex-boyfriend also introduced me to Acappella U, a Podcast showcasing collegiate acappella music groups. If you don't know acappella, it is so worth a listen... imagine all your favorite, popular songs sung without musical instruments... the singers instead make the instrumentals sounds with their own voices, plus sing all the parts. Not only has this Podcast turned me onto a new style of music... it also renewed my interest in popular music. The USC's Reverse Osmosis got me hooked on their version of Fall Out Boy's "Sugar, We're Going Down" and, in turn, got me to buy the original Fall Out Boy version.

I tried Dawn and Drew's Podcast... not bad. I also tried Mommycast... so not my cup of tea, since I'm not a mother. The fact that there's a market for both the mature antics of Dawn and Drew and the mothering advice of Mommycast proves, once and for all, that there really is a long tail... a place for everyone even in the world of Podcasting.

 Bad knitter- bad wife. I looked at my husband's coat the other day and realized he's wearing a scarf I knit the year I learned how... ummm garterstitch brown ugly....blah.

So, I cast on a "noro stripe"  inspired by (ok- copied off of) Brooklyntweed.   I'm using Plymouth's Boku in a brown and a green/brown colorway.  US size 7's.  To match his green hazel eyes;)

 Also still working on the Hemlock Ring blanket:  Somewhere on row 91 I think....

Filed under More exciting news- (read: less boring)

 I participated in the Heifer International fundraising drive via Cara at JanuaryOne.... and I won a prize! A big prize!

Behold, the new Lexie Barnes Lady B who resides with me! 

The bag is a wonderful size,  big- but not bulky.  Fabric is coated canvas and ballistic nylon (I believe) pretty and durable.  Perfect.

It is loaded with inner and outside pockets- and is in  beach happy colors... (perfect for michigan in January) INSIDE the bag were 2 skeins of gorgeous Sundara yarn!  One of her most awesome silk lace in "sunshine" and one of herw coveted sock yarn in Pine over sunshine... lovely! Top it all off with a bit of soak in Citrus and some lovely crafters balm... and I say Merry Christmas Happy New Year to me!

A HUGE Thank you to Cara for organizing and doing all the work involved in  SpinOut-and the giveaway... she's preggers and working- so this was an especially hige undertaking- THANKS SO MUCH!

 OK- I'm nearly embarrassed to say, that after a methodic and obsessive stalking of the MommyCast website- (one of my favorite mommy- podcasts) I won a number of fabulous prizes from their holiday giveaway!  You can click through to see all that I won... suffice to say- shoes for the boy- and me) (haven't arrived yet.. will post pics when they do)  turkeys, (ok, turkey gift certificates...)  a CD (Alvin and the Chipmunks... which was a very cute movie;)   and a new digital camera for my purse were all involved!!!!

(I enter contests all the time- but never win anything!- can't say that anymore!) I'd like to thank MommyCast and their sponsors for all of the goodies- it was really overwhelming and exciting! Looking forward to the new boots and shoes for my guy.... gotta love packages that arrive in the mail... for free!

 And- yes- I meant the title- I'm avoiding taking down the tree.... I love Christmas... but hate that naked feeling when the tree is gone... no matter how much I fuss with furniture... it's just not the same. 

We generally try to make the tree stripping as fun as the tree decorating--- popcorn, movies (Underdog on demand) and cocoa.. but you know- taking down is just not the same!