Isn't the knit pligg awesome?! I'm loving it! It's so great when I just have a few minutes. In a couple of clicks, I can see a dozen sock updates. And then when I have more time, I can read all the stories and see all the things people are considering and recommending. And I'm loving all the socks you all are knitting! Looks like we're going to have a lot of monkeys this go round. I'm planning on making some for the second pal I'm knitting for, one of those forgotten in the last round. Which leads me to...

sockapalooza news & reminders

- Master webmaster has worked out an automated sock savior system that you can use to find someone who needs a sock savior. Just go to the database as usual and click on "volunteer to be a sock savior". The system will send you a link by email as usual and when you click it you'll get the list of the pals who need socks, including their country and preferences. Just choose one, click on it and the system will update your info to record that you are a sock savior for that person. The next time you check out your "sock pal information" page, all their info will be listed along with your original pal! Feel free to contact your sock savior pal to reassure them that someone is finally on the job making socks for them. And get the socks out to them by August 2nd (they've been waiting a long time, so it's okay to send these socks early, but remember your "real" pal's socks for this round should not be sent out before August!).

(Update: Looks like all the pals in need have been taken for now - hooray!! I'm sure there will be more who will need saving as sockapalooza continues, so be sure to check back again in the next couple of months. Thanks to everyone who is willing to be a sock savior!)

- In order to make the blogger blog more functional, we need to reduce the member count on the sockapalooza four blog. I'd like to make it just a blog for those sockapaloozers who do not have blogs of their own. So if you are a member and don't need to use the blog for your updates, please go to your blogger dashboard and remove yourself from the blog (click on settings under "sockapalooza four"). Thanks!

(Update: Looks like even removing ourselves is giving Blogger problems. Give it a try and if it turns out that we can't really do it this way, I'll have to have Blogger delete everyone and then send out invites to just those who don't have blogs.)

- A quick reminder for those of you who are worried about not having heard from your pal. There isn't any requirement for your pal to contact you. Many do and that's great, but many are just working away on socks. Some people are nervous that they'll somehow reveal who they are or they just like stalking you on your blog and want to keep everything a big surprise. Really, there's someone out there knitting for each of you. Don't worry! That being said, if you haven't contacted your pal, consider doing it (anonymously, of course) just in case they are a worrier! ;0)

- I've gotten some questions about posting on the knit pligg. You must always use a unique URL when you post a link on the knit pligg. If you just link to your general blog address, the next time you try to link to it, the pligg will think you are trying to post the same story again. So be sure to use the permalink of the specific post you are linking to. Got it?

- And remember to vote on the knit pligg! It's sooooo helpful when browsing to know that others have already read this story and recommend it. If you have questions about how the system works, read the knit pligg faq.

I look forward to reading all your updates on the knit pligg. So I encourage all of you who haven't tried it out yet to please join us! It's the best way to direct people to your site for updates. I would really love to see all 1,000 sockapaloozers active on the pligg, along with all you other knitters out there sock watching. Join us and keep on knittin'!