It'd be nice if they could display a message when they go down - but it seems internet connectivity is the current problem so they can't display a 'busy' page. It's a bit of a mystery when the site is down and why.
I don't think it's too late to change. The word 'podcast' is confusing because it makes people think you need an ipod. And if you have to then explain to people how to listen and not use an ipod... you loose them. As Eric says it's a Show. We need to decouple the 'show' from the device that plays it. And we need to have an alternative to itunes as a 'channel' to get the 'shows'...
We bought a home in Marin County 2 years ago (assesed value went from about 86K to 608K when property changed hands!). I agree with the comments above. Except that I think 'No Child Left Behind' throws a big nation-wide wrench into education where funding is tied to test scores. Our local school district is all about the test scores. My daughter is in Kindergarten and 'hates homework' already. And so I think that prop 13 is bad but I consider 'No Child Left Behind' to be the 'nation's most f'd up piece of legislation'.