Late last week, Web Editor Stephen Shoemaker and I recorded The Saratogian's first-ever pod cast. For anyone who doesn't know, a pod cast is a downloadable audio file that you can stream off the internet, or download onto your MP3 player and take to go. Typically, pod casts have been the realm of radio stations (and, with increasing frequency, TV stations), but the web is a powerful tool, so we figured we'd join the fun.

In about a five-minute discussion we went over the problems the city is facing with state cuts to VLT aid looming. This is one of many exciting capabilities of our new web platform.

I'll warn you now that the sound quality is slightly less than professional, and while I think Steve is ready to stand in for Carl Kasell, I've definately got a newspaper voice. (You've heard of a radio face...).

Unfortunately, this pod cast had a short shelf-life, as it was recorded before Commissioner of Accounts Ken Ivins released the second revision of his budget, but check it out if you get the chance, if for no other reason than to welcome this paper to the new century! Look for more podcasts in the future.