Hello dear reader. I am in search of your helpful advice. I am looking for podcasts. Specifically knitting podcasts, but I’m also interested in quality music, eco-friendly and helpful podcasts. Here’s what I’m subscribing to now:

• Grammar Girl’s Quick & Easy Tips—This is a quick podcast going into grammar idiosyncrasies. Stuff like is the phrase “you’ve got mail” grammatically correct?
• iTunes New Music Tuesday—Probably the best quick update on new music. Clips of songs last about 10 seconds or a little longer and cover the spectrum of genres. The podcast also mentions iTunes Single of the Week and free downloads so you can take advantage of a good thing. Sometimes there’s a little too much latin, but I just fast forward through those parts.
• NPR: All Songs Considered—Bob Boilen might be my hero. This is a great overall review. He’s been around long enough to know good music. Periodically there are seasonal previews of upcoming music to be released and at the end of the year, there’s a holiday episode and a year in review. This is a longer podcast, so good for a longer commute.
• NPR: Live Concerts from All Songs Considered—This podcast features hour-long concerts. Hour-long concerts people! Of cool bands like She & Him, The Tings Tings, Kaki King. Just remember to limit how many you sync or you’ll quickly fill up your iPod.
• Knit Picks’ Podcast—Probably my favorite fiberly flavored podcast. The host Kelley Petkun (owner of Knit Picks) offers useful information in a light hearted way. The last episode I listened to featured the ins and outs of lace knitting. Fun!
• Learn French with Coffee Break French—Also a new podcast subscription, I’m going to learn French again. Bien!
• Make-It Green: Quick & Dirty Tips—A new subscription and a cousin of Grammar Girl, this podcast has five-minute episodes that give you background information and tips on living a greener life.
• LIME Daily Audio Podcast—A useful life tips podcast.

There are a few podcasts, I haven’t tried out yet. I’m “testing” them, meaning I’ve downloaded a few episodes to sample. Here are those podcasts:

• Planet Green Podcast—Another eco-friendly podcast
• Pointy Sticks—A knitting podcast
• Ready Set Knit—Another knitting podcast
• Tara Stiles Yoga—Yoga videos, obviously
• TreeHugger Radio—From the web guys over at TreeHugger; eco news
• YOGAmazing—Yoga again

Ones I’ve tried and just can’t get into include:

• IndieFeed (all varities)—There’s nothing wrong with it, I just can’t keep up with the format. They stream one song per day with a host giving a little intro of the song in the beginning and summary of the artist at the end. You can’t really do anything with the tracks since there’s stuff before and after and I would rather have a summary show that I get more out of.
• Knit Science—I thought it was going to be more focused on informative topics, but it’s more of a personal podcast. Nothing wrong with it, just not what I’m looking for.
• Limenviolet—Again, more personal stories then information.
• Socks in the City—Personal journal podcast, plus I’m not sure I need any more help knitting socks.

In my searching, I have discovered the Podcast Junkies group on Ravelry where they have a “List your top 3 podcasts” thread. Also on Rav is a FiberPodcasts wiki page, also helpful. These will probably grow my podcast list immediately.

So if you have recommendations, thoughts, etc. that you want to lend my way, I’m on the hunt for quality podcasts.

I’ve discovered a lot of cool things today.

• Amazon released it’s Universal Wish List Button recently. You can add anything you want on the Web to your Amazon Wishlist for one-stop shopping. I find this just about the most amazing thing since I use Amazon as my main wishlist for friends and family. Now to find time to build my ultimate wishlist!
• Google Maps has added walking directions to its ever growing options. Already featuring a Public Transit option, looks like Google is edging out as the best place to find out how to get somewhere.
• Publishing a pattern on Ravelry can be a very rewarding experience.

Here’s a screenshot view of my first pattern, the Double the Fun Dishcloth.

So far 31 Ravelers have faved the project. How fun is that? I love Ravelry!

by ana marie cox

1. The legs are the last thing to go.
2. When you’re sad, don’t fight it—accessorize it. Get some gin and cigarettes, then plan Edith Piaf until the CD starts to skip.
3. Knowing how to roast red peppers will impress more people than you’d think.
4. It’s OK to read at the table.
5. But it’s never OK to watch TV at the table.
6. You can always substitute white wine for vermouth in a martini.
7. Everything tastes better if it’s served by candlelight.
8. If nothing matches, no matter. That’s just another reason for candlelight.
9. Do not try to order in French at a French restaurant unless you are French.
10. Unexpected gifts are the most appreciated.
11. At work, find the people who can fix things—the copier, mistakes in your expense report—and then be very, very nice to them.
12. The cheaper caviar is still quite good.
13. There are five things that will always make you happy if you have them in your home: flowers, a lovely place to eat a meal, a chilled bottle of white wine, Goldfish crackers, and a cat.
14. If you must leave a party and you don’t have a good excuse, spill something on yourself.
15. The proper way to end a conversation is “I’m sorry to let you go.”

—from Real Simple, May 2008

Let me tell you!

A Pneumonia front is a rare, meteorological phenomenon observed on the western Lake Michigan, USA, shoreline during the warm season. These fronts are defined as lake modified synoptic scale cold fronts that result in one-hour temperature drops of 16 degrees F or greater. This extreme change in temperatures can result in a flash severe thunderstorm and/or a microburst capable of affecting the structural integrity of weak buildings such as barns and sheds. The drop in temperature has also earned this meteorological event the title “pneumonia front.” Of course, this is erroneous as it does not directly cause pneumonia. The cold weather is usually short lasted and pneumonia does not have a high likelihood of manifesting itself in the lungs of people who experience the event. — From Wikipedia

We experienced one in Chicago last night. That last recorded incident was July 1, 1983 in Kenosha County, Wisconsin.

I got tagged by La Petite Tricoteuse. Answer the 4 questions, leave a comment to the person you tagged, and let the originator know that you have responded. Here goes:

1) What was I doing 10 years ago? May 1998 I was finishing up my sophomore year of high school, starting my summer job at the pool concession stand a few weeks later.

2) What are five things on my to-do list today – not in any particular order? 1. Take public transit to work. 2. Begin working on my article. 3. Make a delicious meal with D. 4. Start the second Vintage sock. 5. Feel better.

3) Snacks I enjoy: Garlic Rosemary chips from Target, Trader Joe’s chocolate almond clusters, chips and salsa, hummus and pita

4) Places I have lived: In Illinois: Berwyn, Glendale Heights, Wheaton and Chicago, and Iowa City, Iowa.

5) Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Pay off my car. Buy a place to live. Donate money to charity. Travel to Italy. Buy more yarn. Lots of yarn. Start my own magazine.

I’m tagging: Christine and Mandy

Investing in CFLs lately but you’ve heard all the mercury hype? Worried about how you’d clean up a broken bulb? Here are some tips from 7Gen Blog on the matter.

• First, don’t worry about buying or using CFLs. The mercury they contain can’t be released during normal operation, and until new technologies like LED bulbs come along to replace them they’ll remain the best lighting choice in a healthy, sustainable home.
• Always screw CFLs into and out of fixtures using the base and not the glass portion of the bulb. Never force a bulb into an unwilling socket.
• When you replace a CFL, consider using a disposable drop cloth underneath the immediate area, which can make an accident easier to clean up.
• Always dispose of burned-out CFLs via your local hazardous waste program.
• If you break a CFL, don’t panic! Proper clean up will keep everyone safe. Shut off any forced air heating or cooling that’s on, open windows to ventilate the room, and clear the area for 15 minutes. This will dissipate mercury vapors and dramatically lower exposure risks.
• Using disposable rubber gloves, carefully place the larger pieces in a screw-top glass jar. Use stiff paper like index cards to gently gather smaller bits. Try not to stir up any dust.
• Use a sticky tape like duct tape to “blot” up the smaller pieces and powder from the bulb. Place this tape in the jar as well. Follow with a damp paper towel wipe-down. Put the towel in the jar, too.
• Seal the jar, remove it from your home, and take it to your local hazardous waste depot next time you go.
• If you feel the area needs vacuuming, do so now, but throw out the bag when you’re done.
• Keep the room ventilated for a few hours and during the next several times you vacuum the area.

The post has more information on CFLs, so check it out.

Help by figuring out the artist and title of all of these 80s songs.

1. Suckin on chili dogs outside the Tastee-Freez

2. I’ve done no harm, I keep to myself

3. There’s a freeway runnin’ through the yard

4. I’ve seen a million faces and I’ve rocked them all

5. Your mom threw away your best porno mag

6. Can you hear them? They talk about us, telling lies, well that’s no surprise

7. One that won’t make me nervous, wonderin what to do

8. Are you more than hot for me, or am I a page in your history (book)

9. I can hear you comin, I know what you’re after

10. And it’s true we are immune when fact is fiction and TV reality

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