More on PodCasts…

I had some questions about PodCasts and audio books both in the comments and in e-mail, so I thought I would answer them here seeing as I just have more Dimple socks in progress which you *just* saw take shape.

First, Ann, asked if I listen to them on iPod or what?

I do listen to the PodCasts on my iPod Nano often, but you do not need an iPod or even an MP3 player in order to listen to PodCasts. Most PodCasts are just in MP3 format so as long as you have software that plays MP3 files on your computer you can listen to PodCasts on your computer. Also, if you have an MP3 Player made by someone other than Apple you can still take the PodCasts with you on that MP3 player.

I highly recommend downloading iTunes just because of the ease. With iTunes you can both subscribe to a PodCast and listen to it on your computer, but you can also subscribe to PodCasts with many of the blog aggregator services or programs and just download the episodes as you wish. I know for sure that BlogLines and the FireFox plug in, Sage, can also track PodCasts for you. I suspect other services like NewsGator, Feedster, or similar RSS trackers should also work as most PodCasting sites offer RSS feeds. There are also some PodCasting specific programs out there that you might find suit you better. Some choices are iPodder (MAC or Windows) or Doppler (Windows only) to name two. These automate the downloading process and then you can listen to them using your preferred audio playing software or hardware.

Now, if you aren’t interested in the PodCasts I shared yesterday, how do you find PodCasts that might interest you? If you have iTunes they have a pretty extensive directory that you can access by clicking on “Music Store” and then “Podcasts.” Despite it being in the Music Store section most PodCasts are FREE. If you are not using iTunes, there are carious PodCast Directory web sites out there. You might try PodcastAlley which allows you to vote for you favorites so you can see which Podcasts others like or vote for your own favs. Podcast Bunker actually has “staff” that pulls out the best Podcasts so you can be positive of a certain production value with those Podcasts listed there. You might also try Podcast Directory or Podcast.net as well.

There is more basic information about PodCasts here…
- Get Started with Podcasts in 3 Steps

Now, audiobooks…

I’ve been an audiobook gal for a long time as my mother is blind and reads books on tape that are provided through a library service for the blind and physically handicapped. Even when I was quite little she would request books that we could “read” together. Now, because they have to record the book it can take a looong time to get your hands on “bestsellers” so, about two years ago my mom subscribed to a listening program at Audible.com. This helped her to take part in a local book club without having to spend a lot of money. Digital audiobooks (available through Audible and iTunes) can be quite expensive (usually pretty comparable to buying the book on CD or tape) and then you still have to have an MP3 player to put the files onto, listen to them only on your computer, or burn them to CDs. Now, my mom lives on a farm in rural MN and can’t get high speed Internet access, so I download the books for her and burn them to CD. With the Audible subscription program you pay a flat rate monthly and get to download a certain number of books each month which is generally a very significant savings, plus several times a year they also offer special sale prices for their subscribers only. They are getting more and more unabridged books each day and the selection is quite good, though if you do not have high speed access it might be a bit frustrating and time consuming.

There are also some web sites that offer free audiobooks for download. In most cases those books are books that are in the public domain (so prior to 1920 as a rough estimate). Librivox.org is in the process of recording the titles that are available at Project Gutenberg. Many of the titles use a different voice for each chapter which may take a bit of getting used to, but it is free! You might also check out audiobooksforfree.com or FreeClassicAudioBooks.com.

If you would rather listen to books on CD, you can browse only Books on CD at Amazon as well. Or there is a NetFlix-like service for audio books called Simply Audio Books (they also sell downloadable books). Also, most public libraries have a fairly good selection of audiobooks as well which you can check out for free. Though my experience has been that most of them are abridged which I personally don’t care for. It seems often it feels like a poorly done, too long book report. Some libraries are acquiring more unabridged titles as they become more readily available and I have heard tell of some libraries have downloadable titles, though I’m unsure how that works as my own library does not offer that service.

I wish you much enjoyment listening to entertainment while enjoying your knitting, spinning, and other hand crafts!

Pod Casts

I’m a huge and long time fan of listening to audio books while knitting or spinning (or doing the dishes or cooking) and have recently started to get into listening to PodCasts as well. It is sort of like talk radio but targeted to your specific interestes which is great! Yesterday was this week’s cheesemaking day and DH was also trying to finish reading a novel, so I turned to my Nano and knitting for entertainment that didn’t get in his way or cause distraction for his reading.

I had been sucked into an audio book and fallen behind on the podcast episodes, but I thought I would mention which PodCasts I’ve been enjoying and perhaps highlight a little something I picked up from the episode I most recently listened to for those of you who are perhaps not up on the PodCasting phenomenon but are interested in checking it out. Now, it seems most of my weekly PodCast subscriptions update on Fridays so I think I’m a week behind on several of these, but if you’re new to PodCasting it is worth while to go back and listen to past episodes (at least a few episodes back).

One of my favoristes is pretty new, but it is a little broader in scope than just knitting. It’s FiberCast and includes spinning and weaving. It is a relatively new PodCast, but I’m finding it quite informational. In Episode 4 she spoke with Michael Cook of Wormspit.com and asked him all about raising your own silk worms and reeling silk. I found it totally fascinating (and even asked DH if we could raise silk worms - hehe). I couldn’t believe that it took a couple thousands silk worms to get 4 oz silk! It makes the price of silk a bit more understandable when you know how it is raised. She also has many more links to learn more beyond the interview with Michael Cook. I haven’t listened to the most recent yet…

KnitCast is probably my next favorite of kniting-centric PodCasts. This is a UK based PodCast so those who aren’t BBCAmerica junkies like my DH turned me into may have a little difficulty understanding the host at first. But, this one consists mostly of interviews of designers and other knitting related business people. I find it quite interesting. Most recently, Kerrie Allman, founder of MagKnits was interviewed. Check out the left hand column for a list of some future guests! I know I’m personally looking forward to several of those! And, KnitCast will be having a birthday soon and they are taking questions to ask of other knitting pod casters so get those sent in soon if you are wondering what it takes to create your own PodCast!

Cast-On is recorded in Wales by an American, Brenda Dayne, so it’s a bit easier to understand if you aren’t accustomed to accents but it still has some cultural interest and information on sources and such for those across the pond. This one isn’t quite as knitting or fiber-centric as the previous two, but it is more casual and and bit more like many blogs - with more personal details and tangents and the like. Brenda Dayne is also a writer so she shares an essay each episode along. Each episode she also shares a sweater she has knit including info about the yarns she used, the pattern, any changes she made to said pattern etc. She also includes 4-6 songs each week which makes it much more like listening to radio - it’s talk and music and I’ve found all of her music selections to be quite interesting and enjoyable. In Episode 6 I just loved C’est La Fucking Vie by Ginny Clee.

I also enjoy a few other non-knitting related ones such as many of the NPR selections available (All Songs Considered, NPR: Movies, NPR: Books, etc.). I also adore the idea of CD Babel, a music-related PodCast that reviews 3 or 4 artists found on CD Baby in each episode, however, it seems they aren’t into much of a rhythm as new episodes have been *very* sporadic. But, if you use iTunes or other aggregators it doesn’t hurt anything to subscribe and listen to it whenever they get around to posting a new episode.

If you are into other crafty pursuits that include paper arts, I recommend ScrapCast (not always exciting for me as I don’t really scrapbook, but often it’s more about general paper arts) and Crafty Chica.

I want to thank all those who delurked over the weekend! I’ll be getting to your comments as soon as I return from water torture aerobics!

If you have any favorite PodCasts that I didn’t mention (knitting or otherwise) please pass them along! If you are new to PodCasts and have questions, please feel free to ask them, I’m more than happy to answer what I can!

I want comments!

Okay, I’ll admit it… I’m heartbroken when I get little not comments. Especially when I’ve posted an FO! And, since it is de-lurking week (yes, the very tail end of it, I know), would it kill ya to comment and let me know you’re here?

FO Friday - Dimple Done!

Pattern: Dimple soon to be available from Designedly, Kristi
Yarn: 1 Skein No No Kitty Kona Superwash in Graffiti (discontinued), DK Weight Merino
Needles: US 4 & US 3

I’m not big on pink. I would have never chosen this colorway myself, however, I think I will have a lot of fun wearing these with basic jeans and t-shirts etc. They are bright and playful. I prefer the second sock better as it has a bit more orange in it even though they came from the same skein. I had just 1.5 yds of yarn remaining. These have a 6 inch leg and my shoe size is 9.5. It was a close call!

DH wants his Dimples to be longer so I made sure to buy more yarn, but our ankle sizes are almost identical and he likes his socks a bit snugger than I do so the foot just needs to be about 3/4 inch longer than mine. I’ve done about 5 rows on his. I was *exhausted* yesterday.

In other news, I’ve joined in on the 200SOX Kal! I’ll get one of the following buttons added over to the right as well as return my KAL section to it’s previous state before I upgraded the blogging software later today after water aerobics and getting the chilli going in the crock pot.

Sew Fast/Sew Easy Strikes Yet Again!

So, there has been hoopla from Sew Fast/Sew Easy about tradmark on “Stitch ‘n Bitch” most of which got attention this spring. Then it seems they went on and targeted CafePress over the summer. Now, they’ve gotten Yahoogroups to do their dirty work!

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RE: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stitchnbitch-ftcollins/

Sew Fast/Sew Easy Inc. has notified Yahoo! Inc. (“Yahoo!”) that service and/or trademark(s) proprietary to Sew Fast/Sew Easy Inc. were used in connection with the

Yahoo!® Group Stitchnbitch-ftcollins. Sew Fast/Sew Easy Inc. has further notified Yahoo! that the Stitchnbitch-ftcollins group is not authorized to use the mark(s) in question at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Stitchnbitch-ftcollins/

Yahoo! respects the rights of both its users and the owners and rights holders of intellectual property. Accordingly, Yahoo! intends to expeditiously remove or disable access to the mark(s) in question. PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT UNLESS THE MARK(S) IN QUESTION ARE REMOVED FROM THE GROUP AND GROUP URL, OR ACCESS TO THE MARK(S) IN THE GROUP AND GROUP URL ARE DISABLED, WITHIN FORTY-EIGHT (48) HOURS, YAHOO! INTENDS TO DISABLE ACCESS TO YOUR GROUP.

In order to change your Yahoo! Group URL, please follow the instructions below:

1. In the control panel on the left side, click on the Management link.

2. Under the Group Settings, click the Description & Appearance link.

3. Under the Web Address heading, click edit to update the Web Address

4. Click the Save Changes button when you are done.

Through your participation in Yahoo!® Groups you agree to abide by the Yahoo! Terms of Service, as well as any additional Terms of Service applicable to you. The current Yahoo! Terms of Service may be reviewed at: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms. Pursuant to Section 6 of the Terms of Service, Member Conduct, the use of Yahoo!® services to “upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights (“Rights”) of any party” is prohibited.

As you know, Yahoo! may terminate any and/or all services and accounts without notice. This notice is provided to you as a courtesy. Without waiving or limiting any rights or remedies Yahoo! has or may have, as the listed owner of the Stitchnbitch-ftcollins group you are hereby advised that our receipt of another notification of infringement alleging the infringement of another party’s intellectual property in connection with the Stitchnbitch-ftcollins group may result in not only the suspension of the Stitchnbitch-ftcollins group, but the termination of all of your Yahoo! services as well as the deactivation of your Yahoo! ID.

If you believe that the Stitchnbitch-ftcollins group was designated by Sew Fast/Sew Easy Inc. by mistake or misidentification, or if you believe that the group has not infringed upon Sew Fast/Sew Easy Inc.’s service or trademark rights, you may contact Sew Fast/Sew Easy Inc. directly at:

Address: Sew Fast/Sew Easy, Inc
237 West 35th Street, Suite 603
New York, NY 10001

Phone: (212) 268-4321
Fax: (212) 268-4329

We wish to thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation.

Regards,

Copyright Agent, Yahoo! Inc.
[email protected]
****************************
c/o Yahoo! Inc.
701 First Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94089

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This sucks! How is anyone going to find us if we have some generic name?

Anyone recall what became of this in regards to the Chicago group and the CafePress stuff??