Tell us about your blog: As a web producer, I love the Internet and writing, so I’ve had many, many blogs over the years. I literally had a four-block year of my life with (at least!) one post for every day. This is great and pathetic, simultaneously.

I was so busy writing and blogging for other people, I didn’t have time to write everything I wanted to as often as I’d like and was looking for a way to get my thoughts out without having to make time to write.

One of my first real Internet paying gigs was when I was 18 or 19 years old. I was one of the youngest staff employees there, except for, quote, the youngest intern ever. I think he was 14. (Yes, years old.) But, no joke, the kid was a seasoned web veteran and impressed the pants off everyone in the room. Segue to now, this intern is David Karp, the founder of Tumblr–an amazing blogging platform (tumblr.com) which solved my problem and got me back into blogging on my time. It’s intention is to get small, digestible bites online quickly and easily–even by phone. You really have no excuse to not update it, and I’m so happy he’s nerdy enough to bless us all with his genius. (He has an amazing pants collection by now to prove it.)

“WhiterThanYouriPod” is really an ode to my paleness. I’m almost the whitest person alive, I’m sure, and I needed a clever way of describing it since it was the quintessential “white” tech item at the time. Since then, Apple’s busted out some bold chrome colors and discontinued the ffffff (Hex color for white), so I guess I should really change it to WhiterThanYour3G16GiPhone, but I’ve already branded myself.

What do you love about living in New York?

New York is an amazing place to work. Unfortunately, I haven’t made the jump to living in the city yet, so I spend some quality time on the Long Island Rail Road pondering when I should stop torturing myself already. This, however, lead to me blogging constantly via iPhone about all the crazy events that happen on the train (i.e. hitting people, conductors from hell, passengers who fall asleep on me, guys who follow me two blocks post-train exit to awkwardly ask me out on a date). I had so many posts, I started my own tumblog dedicated to all things train: http://lirrdrama.tumblr.com. It’s kind of like Overheard In New York, but confined to railed mass transit.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?

What’s funny about NY commuters is that it’s not our commute that’s awful, it’s each other. One day I will blog about how someone got shot in the face for talking on their phone, I swear. Throw a bunch of different people living their blue and white collared lives into a small space and insanity occurs. I’ve witnessed people open the door to the restroom to yell at the passenger occupying it for not locking it. Who DOES that?

The worst is when people sit in the aisle of a three-seater with the intention of blocking you from getting in there. I don’t know what it is, and I’ve even found myself doing this: No one wants to make anyone else move. We would sooner stand in the aisle than sit in that middle seat or ask Lawyer McLawyerson over there to move his affidavits and suck it.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?

I’ve been to London three times in the past couple months and I don’t think I’d be as good at my job there. Seriously. I think New York just gets into your bloodstream and affects everything that pours out of you. But, I must say their subway system is cleaner, carpeted, color coded and filled with the sounds of hot British accents. They also have a lot less free Wi-Fi.

Best tips, tricks or insider info?

I think everyone should have a blog, or at least try it on for size. Very few people are truly good at blogging, cause at the end of the day, you do need to have writing skills and a keen understanding of the web. Embedding things and posting links does not a blog make, but it’s something anyone can do, especially with the bevy of applications floating around out there. Look at Perez Hilton. The dude gets more traffic than Jesus, yet his site looks like he bought it at a used-blog wholesale outlet. It’s all about the content. You don’t need slick graphics if you have a point of view, and everyone surely has that.

Find some blogs you like. Ask yourself, “What is it you like about them? What keeps you coming back?” Use that as a starting point and you’ll be surprised with the results.

Another tip: Google yourself. You’ll find embarrassing message board postings defending the Backstreet Boys’ honor circa 1998 that you can’t do jack about now.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)

I blog a lot, and that means in some seriously random places. I live-blog award shows as I’m watching them. I’ve blogged at concerts and posted pictures in real time. I’ve even blogged in a bathroom once, which is seriously worse than it sounds, but I assure you I was only waiting in line and it was funny at the time, I swear. No, really.

www.whiterthanyouripod.com

What would your blog focus on? Post a comment below!

Armed with unbridled enthusiasm for Pippi Longstocking and MFAs from The New School, eight writers dedicated themselves to writing and reading great books for children and teens. They have been there for each other from first chapters to first rejection letters to first book signings. Their blog, Longstockings, is part book review, part advice column for navigating the murky world of agents and publishers, and part support system for each other, as well as their loyal subscribers. Whether you are a reader or a writer or both, if you love kidlit, log on!

Tell us about your blog: what is the premise, what are your main coverage areas, how did you get started? We are eight writers and we’re all about kids books. Some of us write for middle grade readers, some of us write for teens and some of us write for both. One of us even has a picture book coming out! We cover everything and anything related to kids’ books and the ups and downs of being a writer. We met at the New School where we all got MFA’s in, you guessed it, Writing for Children, and we are not only a blog but a critique group and support system for each other. We love kidlit and we love blogging about it!

What brought you to New York?
Wanting to live in the greatest city in the country and possibly the world.

What do you love about living in New York?
Great food, awesome stuff to do, the best museums outside of Europe, great mix of people, everything you need is close by and I don’t ever have to drive.

What do you think makes a New Yorker?
Living here and loving it.

What surprises you about New York or New Yorkers?
How quick people are to help each other out. I have two kids and when I needed to shuttle them about in a double stroller people would practically get mowed down in traffic with their efforts to open doors for me.

When you leave New York, what do you miss the most?
The pace and electricity of the city.

Do you know any tricks or insider info?
The most amazing cookies in the world are at Levain Bakery on 74th between Broadway and Amsterdam.

Best corny tourist attraction that you secretly love?
Ellen’s Stardust Diner- waitstaff singing Broadway tunes is my definition of awesome.

Best neighborhood bar?
I like The Heights in my neighborhood, Morningside Heights.

Best late night joint?
For food I’d say French Roast.

Last cultural thing that you did (movie, museum, theatre, etc…)?
Saw the Sex and the City movie- I wasn’t in love with the story but it was wonderful to see the ladies again!

Best fancy schmancy restaurant?
I love Candle 79 on, surprise, 79th at Lex.

Best place for Children to be exposed to new authors?
I’m a huge fan of the Bank Street Bookstore which gets great authors (and also musicians).

Best new author you have recently discovered?
Aside from my fellow Longstockings, who rock, I’d have to say Debbie Reed Fischer who wrote BRALESS IN WONDERLAND, a terrific teen novel about the modeling world.

Best place to find rare books?
I’ve found some terrific stuff at The Strand.

www.thelongstockings.blogspot.com/

What is your favorite children’s book?

Post a comment and below and let us know what’s cool to read.

No matter which superhero is soaring through the stratosphere, rappelling down buildings, or running at ridiculous speeds, they all need outfits and accessories, and when they do, they come to the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Company. The storefront itself is fairly nondescript, while the name hints at the marvels to be found inside. “Antimatter” is a big seller, as is a can simply labeled, “Muscles.” In the fictional universe of superheroes, secret doors and passageways always open to reveal mysterious lairs. But this is not just the stuff of fiction. Behind the shelves of the Superhero Supply Co. a writing and tutoring center looms, where real life heroics take place everyday. “The store and the tutoring/writing center are all a part of the non-profit organization 826NYC,” explains Joan Kim, the center’s Director of Education. “We offer after school tutoring, writing workshops, student publications, field trips, and in-school support.” The store and center is the brainchild of writer, editor and former Park Slope resident, Dave Eggers. In business for nearly 2 years, it’s modeled on a similar outfit in San Francisco, which dealt with commercial zoning regulations by opening up a pirate store as the “face” of a writing center. There are now 6 national chapters, each with its own theme. “The joke here is that if the sign just said ‘Tutoring’ they wouldn’t come in. The store is a way of engaging them,” says Kim, who notes that the store helps fund the tutoring programs. Sometimes kids wander in to try on a cape and discover the “hidden” center themselves. Brooklyn is a great place for the center because of its extensive writers community. Over 600 volunteers staff the programs and tutoring is not limited to writing skills but addresses the whole spectrum of homework subjects. The real life superheroes of the center are concerned not only with students’ skills, but also in illustrating to them how much those skills matter. “One thing we really emphasize is Project Based Learning. When a student works really hard on a piece of writing, we feel strongly about publishing their work,” says Kim. “Publications such as the 826 NYC Review give the students proof that their voices and what they’re saying means something.” Next time you’re in Park Slope, stop in and witness the amazing feats performed daily at the Superhero Supply Company. You can pick up an invisibility tracking device, and spend some quality one on one time with a few superheroes in training.

Superhero Supply Company
372 5th Avenue
www.826nyc.com