I should warn all of you it's about it get pretty geeky on this week's podcast.

Comics. We're talking comics.

Did you know this Saturday is National Record Store Day?

Seemed like a great opportunity to head down to talk records with the owner of Enterprise Records.

Where else but the NXT Podcast would you get a discussion on the economy, jobs, winter festivals and topless doughnut shops?

It's been a wild year for Portland Greendrinks, shooting out of nowhere to now becoming one of the biggest social events in the city.

How'd that happen?

You may have heard or seen some of my musings over recent weeks about creating a new podcast. The rumors and whispers are all true, ladies and gentlemen. I'm here today to tell you we've got a brand new show...please say you like it. Or I'll be crushed.

In case you somehow missed out on some of my coverage of the inauguration of President Obama last week, you'd have also missed out on a little adventure I had with some student journalists from Bonny Eagle High School.

Eleven student journalists from the Eagle Times made the trip to DC to cover the inauguration for for their blog.

Over on the Political Extra I talked a bit about their thoughts on the inauguration and the morning we spent at the Newseum.

But I wanted to circle back and try and take another look at what it's like for them to be a student journalist, what it was like to try and cover the inauguration, and what they think about the future of journalism.

So what's the verdict? You'll have to listen to the new NXT Podcast to find out. You can listen in the player on the right, or download the show. And don't forget we're also on iTunes.

The show has been on a very, very long hiatus (thanks largely to the fact that I've either been gone or reassigned to special projects over the last five months) and it's time to kick start the thing again. I'm looking for show ideas and music to feature, so if you have ideas for either, e-mail me.

Who said things were slow around the NXT Desk? Sure I was away for a week - luckily we had some folks to fill in. And sure, I'll be taking off again tomorrow - this time for a real vacation.

But just because we love you, it's time for a new NXT Podcast!

In our second installment of scenes from a ROFLCon, we bring you Christian Lander, Canadian and would-be authority on things that the White People like.

A lot of things happened at ROFLCon a few weeks back. I gained a new understanding for LOLCats, my faith in Rick Astley wavered, I was blinded - and changed forever - by Leslie Hall's gem sweaters and I sat in the back of a science lecture hall and did not fall asleep, just to name a few.

But I also got to meet a lot of cool people.

It's been a while since we've had a new podcast. I know, I know, we're so lazy and surly around here, it's amazing anything gets done on the NXT desk.

Just to make it up to you we've put together a good one - it's got heart, guts, fashion and youthful optimism. If you're into that.

Turn your dial to NXT radio, where we promise none of the hits, none of the commercials, none of the giveaways...actually, what do we promise again?

Oh, right, interviews.

This week we've got Justin Alfond, former state director for the League of Young Voters.

Happy Monday America, NXT Radio is back and on the air. Lucky for you we have no zany morning crew (or is that cru?) with wacky sound effects, recycled jokes, ticket giveaways or annoying bits.

Annoying host? Well, sorry.

Once again I have failed you as a blogger America.
OK, fail might be a strong word. More like "partially meets expectations."
ANYWAY, if this weekend blog is going to do any good it's got to get up sooner, and I know that.

But conditions down here at the NXT desk have been at threat level magenta. Once we get back down to goldenrod things should get back to normal.

On the plus side we've got our first new podcast of 2008.

It's the time of year where people are fond of putting out "best of" lists. Books, movies, and always music. Getting to the end of another year breeds a kind of lazy short–term nostalgia.
It's always good to reflect, especially when you consider that albums or movies that popped up in March may not be as easily remembered as those that happened in November.

Still, lists can also generate arguments, particularly if someone was left off or not ranked "where they should be."

(Don't worry, this week's podcast is not an 8 minute rant from me on lists...it includes music, I swear.)

Growing up we all had art class and between our teacher and parents there was always someone to appreciate our creations.

I think anyone would have a hard time turning their back on $2 records.
OK, maybe some people aren't compatible with the vinyl, which is cool, because at the WMPG record sale, they also had CDs for low, low prices.

This is not an infomercial, just this week's podcast.

Auctions are very, very strange things.

When someone talks about sensory overload, you think of something like Times Square in New York or maybe being in the heart of Tokyo or the Las Vegas strip.

It's when you're so overwhelmed with information you want to shrink or throw up just to gather yourself.

Did I shrink or reproduce my breakfast? Only this week's podcast will tell.

I wish I could say our Halloween special involved lots of special effects, surprising guest stars, a catching musical number and a heart warming ending.

Sadly our musical director quit in a huff last week after I requested a show tune about zombies in love, our costume supervisor was arrested for smuggling tainted toys from China and the Baldwin brother we had booked back out at the last minute. (Note, it was not Alec. Or William.)

You know that feeling you get when you misplace something - keys, a sweater, the remote - that sort of instant, low-level panic that never really leads to a freak out, but instead annoyance?

After a while you may give up looking for it in the hopes that it will reveal itself over time.

But what about the stuff that never gets found? What about the stuff that has passing significance? A quick note to a friend, some thoughts scribbled on a napkin, or that picture of you next to a cut-out of Huey Lewis?

Here's the thing about the roller derby, it's OK to state the obvious: Part of the appeal is women blazing around a track in leggy uniforms beating each other up and having entirely too much fun.

This fall Maine Roller Derby's had three bouts, three wins. Prior to last week's game I had written about the derby off and on, but had only witnessed a practice.

I knew I had to get down and see the real thing before the season was done. Listen to this week's podcast to find out how things went.

We here at NXT are big fans of the old timey radio program "Car Talk," and really, it is this fine show that we wish to emulate in all of our broadcast endeavors.