My life is now complete after hearing a detailed explanation of animal post process clean up problems.

Man funk? The coffee came out the wrong way upon hearing that... Swear to God people, GET COOL already!!

Just leavin you guys some crockpot lovin. Not too many comments but the shows are great - Betsy's NYC accent is getting better and better and Brian, well he is just melting into the sidewalk like softserve xoxo
PS- I think of you guys every time I say horrible...and being from NJ, I say it alot :)

There are definitely good things about San Antonio. And Betsy is right--you will be able to get Thai (and Indian and Vietnamese, and whatever else) food there. However, it will be sub-par, and you won't want to bother. All Mexican all the time!

I'm excited for this next adventure, as funny as the NY shows are. I can't wait to hear what you think of Texas.

Texas don't believe in evolution.
significant-proportion-of-the american-people think-that-the-the flintstones is-a-documentary

I cannot believe you tagged boner pills...I am sure that will up your hits!
I have heard that SanAnt is really nice! I am so excited for you guys and seriously, the kids will be fine. I moved a bunch of times - granted not state to state - it changes you, but for the better, I think :)

I have the perfect vehicle for your possible move across country...a 10 year old minivan, 166,000 miles, seats 7, VCR...and the best part - it comes with a pre-squished roof!! I thought of you guys when I got the call saying the mechanic had some problems with the controls on the lift. It just kept going up until my minivan was mooshed into the rafters of the garage! Now I feel like part of the Smith-family-cirle-of-misfortunes!!! Can you show me the secret handshake?

I imagine the people who have negative comments to make about you guyes have issues in their own lives they feel conflicted about and they're trying to make themselves feel better by being all superior. Your kids are loved and that's all that matters - they'll deal admirably with all the fun and adventure life throws at them as long as they're loved. So go to Texas if you need to and turn it into yet another adventure for them (and us listeners). Best of luck.

I must have sounded harsh in my previous comment, from january, but i think it reflects how most people think. You can definitely charge for a thing that has never been free, but its hard or impossible to get many people to pay for something that once was free, even if the pay version is enhanced. So many times I have seen websites try to turn content into a for-pay model that burns away all good will. It allways left a bad taste in my mouth.
Well i would like to get cool, but i just cant add another bill to the pile in these economic times. I think i may be out of a job soon myself. I think back in 2005 you would have been against this sort of business model. I watched podcasting grow, and then stagnate and shrink. I think seeing croncast charge just feels like the end of a really amazing era that i didn't want to see go.

Wow. I appreciate the long response. I think its just how charging for a podcast seems to be against the spirit of the whole medium. It basically indicates that podcasting has failed. That its not self sustaining and can't make money off of advertising.

When a podcast is free i think that as listeners everyone feels so lucky to get all the free entertainment. Almost all listeners know they are getting something of value without charge. That makes us feel like we are your friends. That you have invited us over to be part of the conversation. But you wouldnt charge your friends to come over. The illusion is shattered. Now we feel like its a service and not a friendship and instead of feeling greatful, now we feel you owe us content and with every show we have to think "did i get my money's worth?." Its such a change for the worse in the listener/podcaster relationship. I know why you have to do it to keep recording, but that sort of money adds up. The same reason that you have to do it is probably the same reason many of your listeners wont be able to follow you anymore. :(

Sure you're not sitting on an abandoned diamond vault or something? That story reminded me of the scene in MIB 2 where Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith bust in on the couple watching TV and start unfolding walls to get to their space nerd stuff. But fortunately you didn't see any bright flashing...oh, wait.

Congratulation on the new gig!

Hi Brian and Betsy,
Texas...yee-haa! How great is that? I'm from there, most of my family is still there, it's a great place to live.
Congrats and can I go with you? LOL

Take care,
Diane Q.

We'll miss the NY stories, & TX will be chalenging in it's own way. (When Nora was looking for pathology residencies I drew the line at Mason Dixon, which I would consider TX under - I would not send my kids to school anywhere that evolution is a matter of debate.). I do have to second the resilience of kids line of argument. Remember, though - they'll be picking your nursing home.

What! Texas?!?!

Will somebody please think of the show prep?

Dearest Brian...Betsy,
Texas!! Yay for you! Promise us tristaters that we can hang out before you go??

El and Gee are gonna have a hella accent - newmidwestexyorkas :)

Thank you so much xoxo

Also Kris you will be happy to know that Chipotle is alive and well in Austin.

LOL Austin TX, I remember an episode a year or so ago that Kris was complaining about Austin.
My wife has asked me several times to move to Austin.

Wow! I did not see that coming. I lived in Texas for a bit and my parents lived there for about 20 years. It's a different world. I hope you podcast through the whole experience. I missed hearing about your first impressions of NYC when you podfaded for several months.

Wow, Texas! I just moved from Texas! I'm curious where in Texas you're headed--for your sake, I'm hoping Austin.

That said, I want to throw my support in your direction. There was nothing wrong with moving to NY, and there will be nothing wrong with moving to Texas. Your kids will survive, and how cool will it be for them to be able to say they spent a year living in Manhattan? Don't even worry about it, you'll be fine.

You know I love you guys. I adore your show. But JESUS I wish you wouldn't talk about animals. Every time you do, I have to argue with myself about whether to keep listening. A dog with mange should be allowed to die? Really, Kris? I grew up in the same type of environment you did, and I see where you get that shit, but given your ability to un-learn a lot of other things from your upbringing, you'd think you could figure that one out.

Few things are funnier than Betsy's impression of a NY accent.

Jennifer Snell I was born in Brooklyn, raised in NJ and now in adulthood live in Massachusetts. Your story the other day about the "Leprechauns" and "I love Staten Island, but Staten Island is the Alabama of New York" made me miss "home".

We are headed down to NYC for a week in April to be tourists with my 9 year old step daughter. Cannot wait, it'll be so much fun to experience NYC through a child's eyes.

This show was so hawrible...sorry I couldn't resist. Kris and Betsy ARE becoming New Yawkers as evidenced by her "Oh Gawsh" and his "Gawdy"...love the shows guys, it truly is like laughing with friends :)

Sounds like Maggie is not just becoming a New Yorker, but a Manhattan New Yorker. Betsy better start checking for a fur coat at Goodwill for Maggie.

Kris,
Thank you for sharing those words. Wow. I may have never seen sweeter words written for a wife in my life.
Betsy, you are beautiful. Love the long hair.
My best to you and your kids.

A huge fan,
Diane Quam

curious here.... what ppi should i be using. i would assume it would be good to work with something aroung 100 (most screens are 72, my mac is 115... seems a good average.)

via flickr: Damn!

via flickr: I actually like the image, but the type is a bit on the Tim Burton side of life though! Good start.

I like it.

Kris, I gotta say I'm with you on the spit thing - if the lady had reacted at all - everyone would have done something (or at least couldn't have said they didn't see it happening). Then again, had she opened her mouth, it could have gotten spit in it ... ew ew ew ew EW!

Hey, tell Maggie two things. 1. Everyone hates New York; it's a part of living there. 2. It could be worse. Nora, being a pathologist, had to know why the kids' hamster died, so got them to agree to an autopsy. (Never did get a specific cause of death . . .)

Nora says I shouldn't post anything because we just polished off the last bottle of Nouveau Beaujelais, but her goes.

I'm just soooo excited about two shouts-out in a row from my new BFF Kris Smith.

All I have to say is - if the pizza has broccoli on it, it ain't NY pizza. Where I come from, if there isn't a hand painted sign behind the cashier that says, "No water - Business rule" it ain't NY pizza.

And as far as stalking or harassing celebs - I might be in James Gandolfini's face, but no way I'm clicking my camera when Tony Soprano's around.

Anyway, we (me - raised on LI, Nora - raised in Denver, lived & started our family at 215th & B'way 1974-1983) are loving your adventures in the city. Moving from NYC to Denver in 1983 wasn't half as entertaining.

Hi Chris, That is awesome! It is great to hear from longtime listeners. Especially those that stuck with us, even now.

It is hard to even know where to begin with your thoughts.

I'll try though.

I can charge for a podcast and I now do. We ask for a small amount per episode, 37 cents if someone pays monthly. 37 Cents!

That is a little over a penny per minute of each 30+ minute show.

For a base of $4.49 a month we deliver 12 episodes a month. That is less than a #3 meal at any fast food place in the country. If our show isn't worth that to you then that is okay, we are glad that you got enjoyment out of the previous shows.

All of those, btw, you can still listen to in iTunes. There are over 500 FREE episodes in iTunes of the old Croncast.

Which gets me to my next set of points. Croncast - The New York Days is something that was never free or going to be free (if we were able to begin recording again).

New York has been very difficult for us and continues to be. We have to be insanely resourceful about how we live our lives and continue pushing forward to even at base feed our family.

Croncast has allowed us to now have some savings and treat the kids to things like I dunno, shopping for fun $10 plastic toys. Betsy and I are grateful in ways that you can't imagine to all of those that have chosen to support Croncast.

Croncast costs money to produce, host and manage - even when free to listeners. We've found a way to make it sustainable with a little left over.

There is no shame in getting paid for your work. I imagine that when you go to your day job they pay you, right? And then you use that money to pay for things like food, heat and entertainment.

Croncast and podcasting in general is work. If you would never pay a podcaster then you should do them a favor and stop listening or watching. They're doing you a favor by entertaining you for free. And in turn when they look to you to help support their efforts you choose to get in their face and tell them that you have a right to it for free, even if you have to pirate it. That my friend is shameful.

We work hard to produce our podcast, put in long hours and are grateful to those have come along for the ride while crank out The New York Days. The shows are better than ever and we are having more fun doing the shows. I never thought that would be possible.

Betsy (who is now over my shoulder at this point) and myself are sorry to see you go. We wish you the best in your life. Thanks for listening for all those years.

Cheers,

K and B.

Oh how I wish to pick you up in the nyc and bring you in my mommy-mobile to a lovely place called New Jersey...it has Targets, Costcos and lots of fast food :) forgive us "jersey shore" for those kids are really staten islanders...and come to the suburban promiseland ;)

In all seriousness, I am LOVING your descriptions of the new experiences - going from suburban to urban living - it is fascinating!

Hi, I want you to know that ive been a big fan of your podcast for years since 2005 and despite the long hiatuses I've stuck with you guys. But you cant charge for a podcast. You just cant! I love you guys, but I would never ever pay for your show or any show. In fact, if possible i will try to pirate it. You can't charge for something that was once free. Its better to just stop doing them.

Hi Kris & Betsy! Loving the new shows. When you shared your "overheard in NY" story, it reminded me of this website, http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/. You need to submit the free pussy story, lol!
A meet up would be fun! I'm putting Betsy's UCB show on my calendar, I need an NYC fix soon.

I just have to say again how completely stoked I am that you are back! I wasn't sure I'd love the NYC show as much as the ones from the 'burbs, having recently been transplanted to the burbs myself, but I do!

Also, Kris, I think you left a comment on a picture of mine over on Flickr that was meant for some other pink-haired girl. Until I listened to this show, I was way confused!

Betsy - I am also guilty of being a celebrity dummy, I never recognize ANYONE. I mean, I see Brad Pitt in a movie and say "where have I seen that guy before??". Yeah. It's that bad.

Hi there midwestern transplants :) It is great to have you back - I know it is totally weird, but I missing you guys like I miss old friends. The shows have been great - I've laughed out loud and thought of smartass comments every epi so far. Next time I'll try to write 'um down. Glad you're back. We need to have a meet up - you can impress us with all your nyc prowess :)

via flickr: Hot.

Oh and Kris, you're a wussy.

LOL . . . on both the last two.

We're going to be talking about that on Wednesday's show.

It is totally okay. We had it happen this summer after we moved here and didn't handle it so gracefully.

But yes, it is ok if all is on the level. If you're upset with us . . . leaving the kids out of it is a great idea. BTW, that isn't what happened to us at all it was a great encounter, we just didn't deal well.

If all ain't on the level I'd have to get all Gandolfini. :-)

Ha Ha Tom. Kris, if we spot you out with your kids is it ok to say hello?

via flickr: So sweet! And Betsy, you look GORGEOUS.

Celebrity encounters?!? Nora says she would rather spot Kris Smith in a toy store than Dave Chapelle any day. And she knows of what she speaks because we worked in Soho before Meryl Streep walked her dog there and bought coffee at the greasy spoon across the street!

via flickr: she's got some posing skills. i think having a super model as a babysitter rubbed off on her.

I believe it's a default image used as part of the feed. It's very similar to an image that's oart if a default podPress feed, but I think it's different because Kris rolls his own feeds. I asked him about it the other day and he told me something to the effect of "I haven't gotten around to changing that yet." He apparently found time because the image changed for the next show.

via flickr: What a great capture! You're one lucky man! :)

I have to ask. What does the .jpg of a "M" stand for that's attached to the Croncast mp3? I've been trying to figure that out. It's not Pale Groove Studios, Croncast, etc. I'm stumped!

Betsy, you got a bins! That's what the type of GW you are describing in Queens is called where I'm from (Oregon). It's the place where all the stuff from the other GWs goes to die, and they sell it by the pound. My favorite kind of thrift store EVER. I'm so glad you have one now!

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