The judges are in the midst of doing their thing, carefully choosing who has earned an iPod touch from this week's Blaze YouTube Video Contest, the THIRD given away courtesy of those Halloween-loving ghouls over at WHUD. I'm told picking a winner in this week's contest is shaping up to be the toughest choice yet.

But next week's contest - the fourth and final - should be interesting as well, as there are already entries submitted, and the deadline isn't until Tuesday at midnight. So, for all of you heading to the big Blaze this weekend - and I know there are thousands and thousands of you doing so cause tickets have been long gone for weeks and Craigslist is filled with desperate pleas - bring that camera and upload your work to YouTube.

What have you got to lose? Nothing, and what have you got to win? An iPod touch, as I hope you know by now.

Speaking of video and all things very cool, did you see Martha Stewart's version of a Blaze YouTube video from last year? Why do I mention Martha Stewart? Could she possibly be featuring the Blaze again this year? Stay tuned, and in the meantime, click below to see some Blaze Martha magic.

As promised, here is your bonus Meet the Carvers entry in honor of Blaze starting up again tonight and running every night now through Halloween. Take it away, Janice Shields.

BB: Tell us something non-pumpkin related about yourself.

JS: I work as an "interpreter" here at Van Cortlandt Manor...Oops, that's sort of pumpkin-related.

BB: That works! What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2008?
JS: Cats and bats and witches and such. Dino babies, rocks, and delicately carved creamware.

BB: Huge variety. Very nice! Can you sum up Blaze in three words?
JS: Pray...For...Good Weather!

BB: That's four words.
JS: Yes, and it doesn't really answer your question.

BB: The judges tell me they will accept your answer! OK, can you offer some advice for the casual carver?
JS: Wash your hands and keep your carving area clean and be sure your pumpkins are thoroughly scooped out or they will rot.

BB: Lots of good advice. What's the best music to listen to while carving?
JS: I have no control over the CD player in the carving station (heh, heh) but the Bob Dylan that gets played is fine with me. One of our carvers listens to Wagner, but only when no one else is around... I think he is afraid the other carvers might not share his enthusiasm.

BB: Who doesn't love a good dirge? OK, got a pumpkin haiku to share?
JS: Vern is our poet,
and a pumpkin artist, too
so read his haiku

BB: The Vern man profile is coming up. So what's your favorite thing about Halloween?
JS: Believe it or not, seeing how excited our visitors are when they see all of our wonderful pumpkins - especially the kiddies!

BB: That's my favorite thing, too! Pumpkin pie...a la mode, no a la mode, or no way?
JS: No way in October. A la mode any other time.

BB: If pumpkins could talk, what would they say?
JS: Boo, or Boo-hoo.

BB: If you weren't spending October carving pumpkins, what would you be doing?
JS: I'd be telling people, if they seemed interested, everything they ever wanted to know about Chinese export porcelain at Van Cortlandt Manor. And on my days off, I'd be working for a certain presidential candidate in Pennsylvania, since it's a battleground state.

BB: Of course you won't say which one.
JS: Of course not, because Blaze is a strictly non-partisan event. That's why I can't carve a pumpkin of a particular candidate even though I thought it would be really, really scary!

BB: Thank you, Janice!

Blazeblogger (that's me, apparently having watched too many political debates of late) is so amped that Blaze starts again this evening that Blazeblogger is bringing you today not one but TWO installments of Meet the Carvers. First up, Millie Feraca.

BB: Tell us something non-pumpkin related about yourself.

MF: I'm a loving grandmother.

BB: Grandmothers are the best. What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2008?
MF: Owls and others.

BB: Can you sum up Blaze in three words?
MF: Fantastic...Greatest...Wonderful!

BB: Agreed. Can you offer some advice for the casual carver?
MF: Take it slow and easy.

BB: What's the best music to listen to while carving?
MF: Whatever helps you.

BB: Got a pumpkin haiku to share?
MF: Sorry, no.
BB: Really, no, Millie?
Nothing to say about Blaze
or all those pumpkins?
MF: Sorry, no.

BB: No problem. What's your favorite thing about Halloween?
MF: Chocolate.

BB: Pumpkin pie...a la mode, no a la mode, or no way?
MF: A la mode? No way.

BB: If pumpkins could talk, what would they say?
MF: I'm tired.

BB: If you weren't spending October carving pumpkins, what would you be doing?
MF: Watching television.

BB: Thank you, Millie!

Another newish carver goes under the knife for our Meet the Carvers series. Please put your cyber hands together for Ray Ranellone.

BB: Tell us something non-pumpkin related about yourself.

RR: I'm an engineer. TI-83 4 Life!

BB: Wow, I wish I knew what that meant. What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2008?
RR: Happy simple Jacks.

BB: Can you sum up Blaze in three words?
RR: Carpool...People...Carpool!

BB: Indeed. Can you offer some advice for the casual carver?
RR: Pumpkins stay fresh longer, the more you procrastinate.

BB: I need to mull that for a bit. OK, what's the best music to listen to while carving?
RR: Heavy metal.

BB: There ya go. OK, got a pumpkin haiku to share?
RR: So many pumpkins
So many pumpkins to carve
So many pumpkins

BB: Ramones-esque. I love it. What's your favorite thing about Halloween?
RR: I get to dress up all fancy.

BB: Ha. Pumpkin pie...a la mode, no a la mode, or no way?
RR: Sure, when will it be done?

BB: Nice try. If pumpkins could talk, what would they say?
RR: What did you do to my face?!?

BB: If you weren't spending October carving pumpkins, what would you be doing?
RR: Reassembling my car.

BB: Thank you, Ray!

Meet the Carvers enthusiasts will no doubt remember that both Sybil and Tom -- our inaugural entries this year -- got profiled last year as well. But, we have some new faces working the knives, too. Making her debut in the Meet the Carvers series is Christina Ruiz.

BB: Tell us something non-pumpkin related about yourself.

CR: Environment is everything.

BB: Very...Jean-Paul Sartre. What kind of carvings are you working on for Blaze 2008?

CR: Fairies, fishes, and faces.

BB: Can you sum up Blaze in three words?
CR: One...Two...Pumpkin!

BB: Can you offer some advice for the casual carver?
CR: Don't drink and carve.

BB: Ah, so that's why my carvings always end in disaster. OK, what's the best music to listen to while carving?
CR: Ratatat.

BB: Love the electronica. Got a pumpkin haiku to share?
CR: Pumpkins on my mind
Scooping, carving out their guts
Pumpkins have no souls.

BB: Yes! I didn't have to ask in the form of a haiku why you didn't have one! OK. What's your favorite thing about Halloween?
CR: Getting to dress up as a gypsy.

BB: Pumpkin pie...a la mode, no a la mode, or no way?
CR: After seeing thousands of pumpkins rot...no way!

BB: If pumpkins could talk, what would they say?
CR: My face is rotting!

BB: If you weren't spending October carving pumpkins, what would you be doing?
CR: Growing vegetables.

BB: Thank you, Christina!