Escape Artists
PseudoPod => About Pseudopod => Topic started by: Bdoomed on January 02, 2011, 09:05:04 AM
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Hey, its that time of year again, and in the spirit of it all, let's do a Best of Pseudopod 2010 poll!
Below is a list of the main episodes that ran in 2010. Nominate your favorite 3 and then we'll put up a poll. Also feel free to express your reasons for why you liked those episodes. Please remember The Rules (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=3289.0) and that it is all in the spirit of Fun!
Again, list credit goes to Kibitzer :)
Pseudopod 175: Flash on the Borderlands II: The Desert By Tom Leveen / Benefits By John Robinson / Bird in a Wrought Iron Cage By John Alfred Taylor
Pseudopod 176: The Blessed Days by Mike Allen
Pseudopod 177: Turning the Apples by Tina Connolly
Pseudopod 178: The Tamga by Maura McHugh
Pseudopod 179: Fading Light by Simon Strantzas
Pseudopod 180: The Getalong Gang by Barrie Darke
Pseudopod 181: Spirit of Nationalism by Richard Marsden
Pseudopod 182: The Dreaming Way by Jim Bihyeh
Pseudopod 183: Learning to Fly by Garth Upshaw
Pseudopod 184: The Identifier by Mark Patrick Morehead
Pseudopod 185: Charlie Harmer Looks Back by Brendan Detzner
Pseudopod 186: Ankor Sabat by C. Deskin Rink
Pseudopod 187: Oded the Merciless by Tina Starr
Pseudopod 188: The Dark Level by John F.D. Taff
Pseudopod 189: Gretel by Camille Alexa
Pseudopod 190: Wearing the Dead by Alan Smale
Pseudopod 191: Acceptable Losses by Simon Wood
Pseudopod 192: The Radejastians by David Nickle
Pseudopod 193: Bed of Scorpions by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Pseudopod 194: Crawl by Lee Thompson
Pseudopod 195: The Engine of Desire by Livia Llewellyn
Pseudopod 196: The Hand You're Dealt by Frank Oreto
Pseudopod 197: Set Down This by Lavie Tidhar
Pseudopod 198: The Mother and the Worm by Tim W. Burke
Pseudopod 199: Broken Bough by Daniel I. Russell
Pseudopod 200: Episode 200: Oil of Dog By Ambrose Bierce / The Horror of the Heights By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Pseudopod 201: Shadow Chaser by Simon Wood
Pseudopod 202: Eye Spy by K. A. Dean
Pseudopod 203: Flash on the Borderlands III: My Body Your Banquet By C.S.E. Cooney / Sight Unseen By R. Scott Shanks, Jr. / The Lot By C.M. Harris
Pseudopod 204: Her Collection of Intimacy by Paul Haines
Pseudopod 205: Gulls by Tim Pratt
Pseudopod 206: Flash on the Borderlands IV: A Natural By Sylvia Hiven / Shadows' Bride By Marie Brennan / Is This a Horror Story? By Scott Edelman
Pseudopod 207: Papa Was a Gypsy by Shannon Celebi
Pseudopod 208: The Evil-Eater by Peadar Ó Guilín
Pseudopod 209: Corvus Curse by Barry J. Northern
Pseudopod 210: The Nimble Men by Glen Hirshberg
Pseudopod 211: About 77 Degrees, West of Nassau by Don Norum
Pseudopod 212: The Poisoner by Holly Day
Pseudopod 213: Hexagon by Jason Rizos
Pseudopod 214: Wendigo by Micaela Morrissette
Pseudopod 215: Man, You Gotta See This! by Tony Richards
Pseudopod 216: Oral Tradition by Angel Leigh McCoy
Pseudopod 217: Sweet Little Memory by Antony Mann
Pseudopod 218: Flash on the Borderlands V: M' Is for Manhattan By A. Nathaniel Jones / The Snow-White Heart By Marie Brennan / Hoofprints in the Snow By Nathaniel Tapley
Pseudopod 219: The Moon and the Mesa by Daniel Braum
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Can only nominate three? Damn that's rough. I haven't listened to all of them, but of what I have listened to, here's my three noms:
Pseudopod 182: The Dreaming Way by Jim Bihyeh
I love the Coyote Tales, and this is yet another strong entry into the series. Possibly the best so far.
Pseudopod 191: Acceptable Losses by Simon Wood
Fantastic reading and great pulpy story.
Pseudopod 181: Spirit of Nationalism by Richard Marsden
Great classicly inspired ghost story with a nice history lesson wrapped inside.
Episode 200 deserved a special mention because Oil of Dog is one of the most horrific stories I've been exposed to this year. And what does iTunes play for me while I type this? Painful Reminder. Beautiful.
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this year we have wikipedia's episode list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudopod_%28podcast%29#List_of_Episodes) with easy links for memory refreshing
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Can only nominate three? Damn that's rough.
Yeah, last year was five, however the poll turned out to be massive, etc. I want a smaller poll population this year :)
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i'd be interested in something a little more interactive. maybe one of those add-one/minus-one eliminations where everyone nominates their favourite stories and they get added to a big list, each story given points equal to their number of nominations. then once a day everyone is allowed to take a point away from one story and give it to another.
this does stilt the results towards the opinions of active forum users but it also encourages much more involved conversations comparing the merits of the stories.
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178: The Tamga by Maura McHugh
181: Spirit of Nationalism by Richard Marsden
182: The Dreaming Way by Jim Bihyeh
185: Charlie Harmer Looks Back by Brendan Detzner
208: The Evil-Eater by Peadar Ó Guilín
209: Corvus Curse by Barry J. Northern
215: Man, You Gotta See This! by Tony Richards
Hmm. Now I have to pick three...
Edit: OK, it's actually the three listed first above: 178: The Tamga by Maura McHugh, 181: Spirit of Nationalism by Richard Marsden, 182: The Dreaming Way by Jim Bihyeh
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1) Set Down This
This story stuck with me very strongly and cemented my appreciation and envy of Lavie Tidhar. I adore well-constructed language, and the subtlety of the storytelling here makes it one of my favorite Pseudopod episodes ever, right up there with "Everything is Better With Zombies."
2) The Engine of Desire
This is my fondness for vivid imagery and visceral description leaking through. I appreciate a story dense enough to approach poetry every now and then, and this one used very evocative sensory details (much to the chagrin of some, as I recall.)
3) The Moon and the Mesa
Ending the year on a strong note. I know it's a tendency for these sorts of lists to favor the most recent items, but I really enjoyed this story. It tackled difficult subject matter with tact and deftness, and it successfully subverted expectations and left intriguingly placed loose threads to follow. I approve.
Honorable Mentions
Bird in a Wrought Iron Cage - The image of the hand in the cage has been hard to shake, as has the sensation of the hand's sheer nastiness. The most successful of this year's flash stories, for me.
Pseudopod 179: Fading Light - <3 that closing image, even if the story itself wasn't all that memorable.
Pseudopod 181: Spirit of Nationalism - This story had its flaws, certainly, but it gets mad props for subverting the paranormal knowledge trope, where the mystic force brought back by the spirits of the fallen is somehow always "good" and right and correct. This spirit was noble, yes, but also deluded, and that delightfully cynical twist warms my black, bitter heart.
Pseudopod 190: Wearing the Dead - Another story that felt a little too long but that won me over with a striking and hard to forget closing image.
Pseudopod 191: Acceptable Losses - Faustian bargains are definitely a good time. My biggest complaint here was that the amount of death veered from "tragedy" into "statistic" territory.
Pseudopod 205: Gulls - I dissed the Pratt-monster in my other selections, so I had to give him the nod here for a fun story that is just the right length. It sets the ball up, runs back, punts it through the uprights, and then gets out of the way. I appreciate that in my fluffy monster stories.
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i'd be interested in something a little more interactive. maybe one of those add-one/minus-one eliminations where everyone nominates their favourite stories and they get added to a big list, each story given points equal to their number of nominations. then once a day everyone is allowed to take a point away from one story and give it to another.
this does stilt the results towards the opinions of active forum users but it also encourages much more involved conversations comparing the merits of the stories.
While I like the idea, I'm going to respond first with an 'ehhhhh' and then with an explanation (ish) why.
ehhhhh
I like continuing what was done last year, I feel that the poll structure facilitated enough discussion. Besides, discussion of the merits of the stories already happen in the story threads themselves. Valuing one story over another discussions can happen in the poll thread itself. Also, school is starting back up for me in 2 days and I honestly don't want to bother with keeping track of +1's and -1's. Last time that was done, it was kind of messy, especially at first.
Still unsure as to my picks, I'll get on that soon hopefully...
Once I deem we have enough nominations, I'll put up the poll :)
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you don't need to justify the decision, it's up to you, but there are a couple points i'd like to make and will do that by quoting things you said and then replying to them.
I feel that the poll structure facilitated enough discussion.
we disagree here. (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=3357.0)
there is also a big difference between analyzing a story by itself and putting beside another story to compare & contrast. there could be an interesting conversation in comparing how the three war stories spirit of nationalism, acceptable losses, and set down this handled their respective time periods. a more interactive poll doesn't guarantee that it would happen but at least there's a chance.
I honestly don't want to bother with keeping track of +1's and -1's.
these are tracked & policed by everybody. it only takes as much of your time as you give it.
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apparently, by waiting a bit, i get to have all my favourites since most have already been nominated =)
the new ones:
Oil of Dog
The Nimble Men
Gretel
the others already nominated:
The Moon and the Mesa
Spirit of Nationalism
Acceptable Losses
Set Down This
The Dreaming Way
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Pseudopod 180: The Getalong Gang. I'm fascinated by stories about mental illness, particularly by stories written from the afflicted person's point of view.
Pseudopod 191: Acceptable Losses. Great exploration of the morals of war.
Pseudopod 200: Oil of Dog. I like me my Ambrose Bierce.
Honorable Mentions:
The Dark Level
The Hand You're Dealt
Broken Bough
Set Down This
Her Collection of Intimacy
Is This a Horror Story?
Wendigo
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Pseudopod 177: Turning the Apples by Tina Connolly
Pseudopod 190: Wearing the Dead by Alan Smale
Pseudopod 211: About 77 Degrees, West of Nassau by Don Norum
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The Snow-White Heart
Ankor Sabat
The Dark Level
Edit: Wow, a diverse bunch! I think it's a good sign that our nominations are all over the map. It means that the staff are doing a good job picking stories that attract a variety of tastes in stories.
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1. Pseudopod 210: The Nimble Men by Glen Hirshberg
2. Pseudopod 175 (3 of 3): Bird in a Wrought Iron Cage By John Alfred Taylor
3. Pseudopod 207: Papa Was a Gypsy by Shannon Celebi
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Edit: Wow, a diverse bunch! I think it's a good sign that our nominations are all over the map. It means that the staff are doing a good job picking stories that attract a variety of tastes in stories.
We will defy you, Bdoomed! We like our polls roiling putrescent bloated masses over here.
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TOP 3
Pseudopod 195: The Engine of Desire by Livia Llewellyn
Pseudopod 206: Flash on the Borderlands IV: Is This a Horror Story? By Scott Edelman
Pseudopod 180: The Getalong Gang by Barrie Darke
HONORABLE MENTION
Pseudopod 181: Spirit of Nationalism by Richard Marsden
Pseudopod 183: Learning to Fly by Garth Upshaw
Pseudopod 185: Charlie Harmer Looks Back by Brendan Detzner
Pseudopod 192: The Radejastians by David Nickle
Pseudopod 215: Man, You Gotta See This! by Tony Richards
Pseudopod 193: Bed of Scorpions by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Pseudopod 197: Set Down This by Lavie Tidhar
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Wow, a diverse bunch! I think it's a good sign that our nominations are all over the map. It means that the staff are doing a good job picking stories that attract a variety of tastes in stories.
Agreed, that's one of my favourite things about PP -- they continue to defy definition.
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So many fantastic stories to pick from. I listened to all of these at least a half dozen times.
Nominations
206: Flash on the Borderlands IV: Is This a Horror Story? By Scott Edelman
The second best story to ever grace Pseudopod, in my opinion. Second only to the incomparable "Survival Skills".
195: The Engine of Desire by Livia Llewellyn
Mature, well presented and luscious combination of horror and sex. 'Nuff said.
200: The Horror of the Heights By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
This barely, BARELY nudged out "Hoofprints in the Snow", but I cannot deny this perfect storm of aviation and epistolary fiction.
Honorable Mentions
218: Flash on the Borderlands V: Hoofprints in the Snow By Nathaniel Tapley
202: Eye Spy by K. A. Dean
182: The Dreaming Way by Jim Bihyeh
191: Acceptable Losses by Simon Wood
181: Spirit of Nationalism by Richard Marsden
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My nominations:
#207: Papa Was a Gypsy by Shannon Celebi
#177: Turning the Apples by Tina Connolly
#197: Set Down This by Lavie Tidhar
Runners Up:
#200: Oil of Dog By Ambrose Bierce
#189: Gretel by Camille Alexa
#176: The Blessed Days by Mike Allen
Special Mention:
#186: Ankor Sabat by C. Deskin Rink
I frankly don't think Ankor Sabat is good enough to win an award, which is why I separated it from "Runners Up" (also so I could have exactly 3 there). But I wanted to mention it because it was a story that, if not ruined by the ending, would very likely have been one of my nominees. I don't want to nominate it as it is written, but it was very close to being a story I would nominate. And I think that is something the author and Pseudopod editors might consider worthwhile.
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What a way to start my posts!
187 - Acceptable Losses - Alan Smale
210 - The nimble men - Glen Hirshberg
206 - Flash on the Borderlands IV: Is This a Horror Story? By Scott Edelman
Thank you for all the stories that help keep my imagination alive and help rebuff the grind of everyday life.
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my three:
Pseudopod 208: The Evil-Eater by Peadar Ó Guilín
Pseudopod 191: Acceptable Losses by Simon Wood
Pseudopod 175: Flash on the Borderlands II: Bird in a Wrought Iron Cage By John Alfred Taylor
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Poll will go up either Friday or Saturday (Feb. 4 or 5).
So get in your nominations beforehand if you have not yet done so!
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Still unsure as to my picks, I'll get on that soon hopefully...
Poll will go up either Friday or Saturday (Feb. 4 or 5).
So get in your nominations beforehand if you have not yet done so!
So what are your nominations?
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I hope it's not too late to add mine?
Is this a Horror Story? This one was totally out of the realm of stories I typically enjoy (read: big cosmic evil, monsters and Lovecraft haha) but holy crap did this one stick with me. Disturbing as all hell.
The Mother and the Worm Loved this one! Even better than the first. This sort of magic and world-building is tough to pull off, but this story handled it admirably.
Acceptable Losses This is definately the type of story I love. It has my favorite archetype in it (the enthroned monster) and really nails the Lovecraftian nightmare really well. It would have been number one, but I think it could have actually benefitted from a but of "pulpy front loading." The actual monster itself comes out of left field a little and only after a chilling description of the soldiers' jobs.
Honorable Mention:
The Dark Level Loved this one. A scary parking garage that's a pitcher plant? Brilliant. Very atmospheric. Plus it was narrated by Ian Stuart - how much better can you get?
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Poll's going to be a bit delayed, been sick this week and I have to finish up some reading today. I'll probably get to it either tonight or tomorrow.
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Some announcement on the podcast would have been helpful. And why the hell are there no new stories?
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if you want to 'buy in' to slaughterhouse 10 feel free to add one point to each story you like that's still alive.
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Some announcement on the podcast would have been helpful. And why the hell are there no new stories?
Is it the moderator's intention to simply ignore this? Not all Escape Artist fans hang out here. Some consideration would have been appreciated; doesn't exactly encourage one to donate (one point you NEVER fail to mention).
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Some announcement on the podcast would have been helpful. And why the hell are there no new stories?
Is it the moderator's intention to simply ignore this? Not all Escape Artist fans hang out here. Some consideration would have been appreciated; doesn't exactly encourage one to donate (one point you NEVER fail to mention).
Apologies, I did not see your first post, therefore no, it was not my intention to simply ignore it. However, more tamed, decent language might get you further.
Also, I have no control over what is and what is not announced on the podcast. The Best of Pseudopod polls and nominations are designed for us here on the forums. I do not think they have ever been announced on the 'casts themselves, as they are somewhat unofficial. They are official only in the sense that the moderators run them.
As for why there have not been any new stories, there is another thread that has asked that "Unaskable Question (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=4680.0)" already, and inquiries should be directed there, although they have now been largely answered. Perhaps some quick research would be prudent before posts such as yours.
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Well, according to this new information, I have no choice but to hold you, Bdoomed, responsible for any and all future problems with the podcast, including the lack of funding.
This is all your fault.
You monster.
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I am a monster.
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I am a monster.
Jesus Christ it's a (tiger) get in the car!
Hmm. Doesn't have quite the same ring to it.
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Yeah, you're right. Oh well. Rawr.
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Some announcement on the podcast would have been helpful. And why the hell are there no new stories?
Is it the moderator's intention to simply ignore this? Not all Escape Artist fans hang out here. Some consideration would have been appreciated; doesn't exactly encourage one to donate (one point you NEVER fail to mention).
Apologies, I did not see your first post, therefore no, it was not my intention to simply ignore it. However, more tamed, decent language might get you further.
Also, I have no control over what is and what is not announced on the podcast. The Best of Pseudopod polls and nominations are designed for us here on the forums. I do not think they have ever been announced on the 'casts themselves, as they are somewhat unofficial. They are official only in the sense that the moderators run them.
As for why there have not been any new stories, there is another thread that has asked that "Unaskable Question (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=4680.0)" already, and inquiries should be directed there, although they have now been largely answered. Perhaps some quick research would be prudent before posts such as yours.
I do hope those who deal with the financial future of this enterprise read this. Unofficial or not, these forums are one face of Escape Artist. And questions get answered with 'the answers in another thread, go look for it'? That's great. This really is a management issue, so I won't bother you further. Yes, perhaps I could have used 'more tamed, decent language', but scolder 'customers' is bad for business.
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I do hope those who deal with the financial future of this enterprise read this. Unofficial or not, these forums are one face of Escape Artist. And questions get answered with 'the answers in another thread, go look for it'? That's great. This really is a management issue, so I won't bother you further. Yes, perhaps I could have used 'more tamed, decent language', but scolder 'customers' is bad for business.
I am just a consumer here, so you know where I'm coming from. From where I'm sitting, you're coming across as an angry troll. That may not be your intent, but the community is supposed to live by "be civil and respectful" (http://forum.escapeartists.net/index.php?topic=3289.0). I am concerned about Pseudopod as well, but I'm not gonna bust their balls for not giving me free things at the rate I had grown accustomed to. I donate, too, but that is freely given for past product that was enjoyed. I don't own any of their time, nor do I have expectations that they owe me anything.
Now that you're here, go vent your spleen on a story you hated (while adhering to the rules in the above linked thread) or lavish praise on one you loved. Our commentary is taken into consideration when they make editorial decisions.
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I do hope those who deal with the financial future of this enterprise read this. Unofficial or not, these forums are one face of Escape Artist. And questions get answered with 'the answers in another thread, go look for it'? That's great. This really is a management issue, so I won't bother you further. Yes, perhaps I could have used 'more tamed, decent language', but scolder 'customers' is bad for business.
Again, I do apologize for not answering your first inquiry right off the bat, I overlooked it and read only the post after yours when I checked on the thread :)
As for answering your question itself, I pointed you to that thread because I felt that you would like to read the posts for yourself, instead of reading a summary of Al's post by me in this thread. I figured anyone would rather read it straight from him, not me, maybe I figured wrong? You also could have acted in a more civil manner, so maybe I was a little short with you, apologies for that as well, however you posted a question unrelated to this thread in said manner. (and now the whole thread's derailed grrrr!)
If you posted that question in a thread by itself, you would have been pointed to the linked thread all the same. That is what we do here, we point people's inquiries to the right threads. I meant no offense by linking that thread to you, and again I do feel that I was somewhat rude about it, but as Fenrix said, you were coming across as an angry troll. And yes, this is an official face of Escape Artists, so we like to remain civil and respectful here.
We are all waiting eagerly for new episodes to begin airing again, in the meantime you might want to check out Cast Macabre at http://www.castmacabre.org/ , I hear they air some great stories. (I have personally never listened due to a busy schedule)
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I do hope those who deal with the financial future of this enterprise read this. Unofficial or not, these forums are one face of Escape Artist. And questions get answered with 'the answers in another thread, go look for it'? That's great. This really is a management issue, so I won't bother you further. Yes, perhaps I could have used 'more tamed, decent language', but scolder 'customers' is bad for business.
You asked a question in a thread that had nothing to do with that topic, you used abusive language, and you got fighty when the random forum moderator (who has nothing to do with anything except, y'know, the forums) missed your misplaced post. The moderator apologized and pointed you to the place where you can find the answer to your questions. For this, you have now snidely insinuated that he should be fired for being bad for business.
At this point I am going to assume that you are some sort of performance artist and this piece is about how consumerism is destroying the moral foundation of our educational system.
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I do hope those who deal with the financial future of this enterprise read this. Unofficial or not, these forums are one face of Escape Artist. And questions get answered with 'the answers in another thread, go look for it'? That's great. This really is a management issue, so I won't bother you further. Yes, perhaps I could have used 'more tamed, decent language', but scolder 'customers' is bad for business.
As someone who went from being a moderator to being on the editorial side, the mods know little more than the general public on what's going on behind the scenes at the various podcasts. While the forums are somewhat of a public place for the 'casts, they're very much their own beast, and we have moderators because we editors don't really exert any direct control over them (though we'll delete spam posts and the like from time to time if we get there first). We tend not to announce things here because we assume that this is its own community that grew out of the 'casts audiences, and not the full audience of the podcasts. For example, any major EP announcement is going to go on our blog.
Bdoomed handled things well here as there was another thread devoted to this topic, which he linked to in his post. Which is what I would have done when I was moderating the Podcastle forums. He's also an unpaid volunteer with plenty of other stuff going on, so missing a post in one thread isn't a big deal.