The Secrets Of Oakland, California - A Video For CNN's iReport

I created this video at the specific request of Tyson Chandler at CNN's iReport. The idea is to give viewers a look at the secret places in your town, so I made this one for Oakland:

How To Get More Women to Be Video Bloggers

There's an idea out there that there are more male than female video-bloggers and an anecdotal scan would seem to confirm that. My video explains how we can change that by encouraging women to vlog, and protecting them from harm and harrasment online to the extent that's possible. Here's the iReport version .

YouTube Videos Pull In Real Money - NYTimes.com

YouTube Videos Pull In Real Money - NYTimes.com: “Making videos for YouTube — for three years a pastime for millions of Web surfers — is now a way to make a living.

One year after YouTube, the online video powerhouse, invited members to become “partners” and added advertising to their videos, the most successful users are earning six-figure incomes from the Web site. For some, like Michael Buckley, the self-taught host of a celebrity chatter show, filming funny videos is now a full-time job.

Mr. Buckley quit his day job in September after his online profits had greatly surpassed his salary as an administrative assistant for a music promotion company. His thrice-a-week online show “is silly,” he said, but it has helped him escape his credit-card debt.”

Leigh Steinberg's 22nd Super Bowl Party: Scottsdale, AZ - Video

This is the video account of Leigh Steinberg's 22nd Super Bowl Party. This one held at the Botanical Gardens outside Scottsdale, Arizona. The video features an interview with Leigh where he talks about the "Green Initiative" he's started, Ricky Williams, and "Athletes for Obama."

The Davos Question - My Video Call To End Racism Around The World

YouTube in partnership with The Davos Forum has established a great "contest" although I don't think of it like that. YouTubers are asked to submit a video answering the question "What one thing do you think that countries, companies or individuals must do to make the world a better place in 2008?"

I thought a long time about the question, and then, after approaching Mayor Gavin Newsom to be in the video, then getting caught up against deadlines, I had the answer: to end racism around the World.

I got the video into the YouTube Davos system at the last minute, litterally, before the day of the 21st ended. Then I got the confirmation email, so I guess and hope it makes it.

Here's the video:

SCARY MARY - Video Recasts Mary Poppins As A Horror Flick

I don't know if you've seen this, but check it out.



According to the description:

This recut of the Disney classic 'Mary Poppins' was made by myself (Chris Rule), with assistance by Nick Eckert. This is TOP-QUALITY for YouTube and TAG-FREE.

This contains the musical piece "A Violent Attack" composed by Caine Davidson for the film 'An American Haunting,' "Stay Awake" written by Richard and Robert Sherman for Disney's 'Mary Poppins,' and stock sounds from iMovie.

YouTube Community Council - My View On The Group

This video's a response to BravesGirl's presentation of the YouTube Community Council of which she's a part. I'm happy to see she's on it, but I have one major criticism which I present in this video.

Oprah Winfrey's On YouTube, But Video Comment Restrictions Piss Off YouTubers

Oprah Winfrey goes Web 2.0! Oprah launches her YouTube channel and as our new Internet world would have it, she can't bring her old media control ways to YouTube without protest.

First, the video shown below is actually blocked from view! You may be wondering how I managed to at least show the image you see, and that's because I created my own embed code. Now, it's here, but you still can't play the video. It's disabled from being embeded.



It's not a smart approach as it actually robs Oprah of additional video views -- something advertisers focus on as if Oprah's people are going to embed sponsor ads in future videos, those companies want maximum exposure; the current strategy kills that.

But there's another move by Oprah's YouTube people that's really got the community pissed off. I was alerted to this by my friend Kenrg, a frequent YouTube contributor.

Ken wrote:

Hi Zennie -

I'm sure you've noticed by now that Oprah Winfrey has taken over the front page of YouTube (check out her "welcome message" and her selection of featured videos, including three of her own).

TaraGolden and I are putting together a quick collaboration video welcoming Oprah, and letting her know that YT is about 2-way communication, we're not all wanna-be stars or freak acts, and that we're here because we DON'T want more TV. As politely as possible, of course.

If you have anything you'd like to say to Oprah in our open video letter, please send it to me anytime today to kengoldstein@gmail.com.

I'm going to finish the edit and post it first thing Wednesday morning.

Thanks!

- Ken

So Ken's pissed. Renetto's upset too , although I think it's because he wasn't mentioned on Oprah.

AnimeDudeAsian's reaction was "You gotta be fuc#$ kidding me," and other choice words, referring to "That crapping ass dog on a skateboard" as the video Oprah showed that he wished she'd not have touched. Finally, AnimeDudeAsian thinks each YouTuber should get a car from Oprah.

Stay tuned for more reactions!

After Seeing Mark Cuban Dance, Marie Osmond Faints - Video

Well, if you saw Mark Cuban's nerdie dance number, you'd faint too. He was booted. Here's the video...

Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, and Jon Stewart at the Emmy's- Video

San Francisco Transbay Terminal Design Competition Video

This video is of the public display at SF City Hall of the three concepts developed for the San Francisco Transbay Terminal Design Competition. I'll use the information from the official website of the San Francisco Transbay Terminal Redevelopment effort:

In November 2006, the TJPA launched an international Design and Development (D/D) Competition to allow world-class architects and developers from across the globe the opportunity to partner and bid for the rights to design and build what will be the Grand Central Station of the West. (Link to archived Stage I and Stage II Competition Materials and Releases.)

The TJPA sought a team that would create a unique, world class Transit Center and adjacent mixed-use Tower whose aesthetic, functional and technical excellence are worthy of their position as the centerpiece of the new Transbay neighborhood in downtown San Francisco.

Three D/D teams are in the final stage of the competition. The remaining teams are:

Richard Rogers Partnership and Forest City Enterprises with MacFarlane Partners
Skidmore Owings and Merrill and Rockefeller Group Development Corporation
Pelli Clark Pelli Architects and Hines
Process

Each team presented its design concepts for the new Transit Center and Tower to the TJPA Board of Directors on August 6, 2007 in the Board Chambers of San Francisco City Hall. Read the Press Release here (.pdf)

The three proposed designs are being evaluated by the D/D Competition Jury, a nine-member panel with a broad spectrum of design and development expertise. All jurors were selected by the competition manager and approved by the TJPA Board. The D/D Jury recommendation will be brought before the TJPA Board on September 20, 2007, at San Francisco City Hall at which time the Board will vote on the final proposal.

How to Comment

The designs are shown and described below, and comments may be submitted by emailing D&DComment@transbaycenter.org, or by submitting a comment card to:

Transbay Joint Powers Authority
Attn: D&D Public Comment
201 Mission Street, Suite 1960
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 597-4615 fax

The public will be able to comment until September 17, 2007.

Comments from the public will be forwarded to the TJPA Board with the Jury's recommendation at the September 20, 2007 Board Meeting.

_________________________________________________

My favorite? I actually like the SOM scheme. To me it's the most San Franciscan in its form. It fits with the surrounding context and has an air of monunmentality currenly missing from San Francisco's urban design culture.

My Response To Valleywag's Tim Faulkner's Article On My ABC Debates Video

Valleywag's known for its "hotvlogger" contest!

Hello,

Clever? ABC Marketing. No way man; are you kidding? First, ABC only received about 60 videos, and not the 2,900 for the CNN / YouTube debate. So to call the ABC Marketing Team clever is just plain intellectually sloppy. But -- and you must admit this -- the fine point you introduce (for some reason) isn't fine point at all. You present the text as if it states "submitting a video does not mean we will use it in the debate." NO. ABC's presentation, including the emails sent, imply that our videos will be used in the debate.

I can't for the life of me understand why you took a contrary view to an issue that's on the center scope of a number of vloggers and one that -- if you visit my blog Zennie's Zeitgeist -- even Amanda Congdon agrees with. But you did, thus my reply. (Delivered with considerable respect for you and your publication!)

Now, pleasantries aside, back to my retort.

The reference to the "blonde" was both true and a trap. I totally detest stereotypical behavior in media. Thus, the installation of my trap, knowing that someone would point to -- as you put it -- "the irony" of mentioning Amanda Congdon. Hey, I placed a photo of her in my video for a reason. If one reads the exit text at the end, they will note my expressed displeasure for the media's habit of using blonde images to attract, but not employing someone blonde to run something -- in this case the ABC Debates.

I knew there were going to be TWO reactions -- the one I got from a female vlogger who immediately got what I was saying and showing and expressed support, and this one. Ah, people are so terribly predictatable and in a way I wish they were not.

Your text also communicates that you did not actually see the debate. You referred to the effort by "The Disney-owned network" as "America's Funniest Home Videos" when it was not that at all. Geez, they only used two -- TWO -- videos, and as I understand it, the video with the blonde was made BY ABC, and not submitted by the woman in the video!!!

I learned that after I made my video.

Please help wake people up -- well, OK, one can state that by presenting my video and setting the stage for this exchange, you've done just that. But there's a bigger issue here.

I am one who believes in effective change, and not accepting things they way they are. Your text implies that you like the media landscape as it exists. That's actually an unusual position in an industry that's in a total state of flux -- just witness the success of this publication versus its offline competitors.

We've got to have a serious conversation about the direction of media and how we can impact positive and beneficial change. It's not that we should expect ABC to behave in a way that's "controlling", rather we should demand that ABC and traditional media -- and the Republicans skipping the CNN / YouTube debate and thus causing a rescheduling of the event, to come into this century and embrace a more democratic process.

By not being part of this change, you're being -- in effect -- conservative and stiffling to social advancement. I don't think you intend that. At least I do hope not.

Video - Barack Obama Slams Romney And McCain For Lying About His Support Of The War On Terrorism

In this video, Presidential Candidate Senator Barack Obama -- addressing the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists at their annual convention in Chicago -- wasted no time in firing back against Republican Presidential Candidates Mit Romney and John McCain for their claim that Senator Obama's against the troops and the War on Terror because he voted against the Iraq spending bill, which passed earlier this week.

Here's the video:

President William J. Clinton - Clinton Foundation Speech In San Francisco - Video

President William J. Clinton – Bill Clinton – appeared before 2,000 people at a reception for the Clinton Foundation at the Fairmount Hotel in San Francisco. An event which raised $200,000 for his organization. (The video that accompanies this is the only one online with the full speech Clinton gave that night.)

He gave a short – for him – speech about giving. He says that this event is part of a global movement toward lifting citizen power to do public good without holding office, where people are donating to World causes at levels not seen in history. "Warran Buffet’s gonna give away 98 percent of all his money. Bill Gates already gave $35 billion,"President Clinton said.

"The Internet," he said, "has made it possible for people of modest means, if they agree on one thing, to change the World." President Clinton said the Internet made it possible for the Bush / Clinton Katrina Fund to generate $1.2 billion in America alone.



President Clinton also pointed to the rise of "NGO’s" or "Non Governmental Organizations "around the world for the rise in global donations to causes. They are the organizations like the Gates Foundation giving money and directing it to solve problems around the World. There's a half million NGOs in Africa and China, each.

President Clinton himself was able to negotiate a dramatic price reduction in medicine for AIDS in developing countries. In America he’s working to combat the problem of childhood obesity and promoting economic empowerment.

President Clinton explained that we must work to achieve positive works from our interdepence. "We’ve still got to figure out how to live with our differences, "he said.

“I want you to talk to people about what you did tonight, "he said.

Senator Hillary Clinton did not appear on stage, but she was there according to a security agent I talked with.

For more information, visit the Clinton Foundation website at http://www.clintonfoundation.org

Philip de Vellis Explains How And Why He Created The "1984-Hillary" Video

In this video, Philip de Vellis -- aka ParkRidge47 of YouTube -- talks to YouTube's news and politics editor Steve Grove about the "Vote Different" ad and the future of online video. This is a good resource for videobloggers.

In the clip, he explains that he used a MacBook, Final Cut Pro, and Motion 2 to create the video, and that the effort was rather easy. What he was not prepared for was the viral response.

NFL Draft Preview Video - One | Chris Leak, Ted Ginn Jr., Michael Bush, Kenny Irons

I called this NFL Draft Video - One, because there will be more videos before all is said and done.

The author reports that it features MICHAEL BUSH,CHRIS LEAK, DWAYNE JARRETT, TED GINN JR., KENNY IRONS.

Chris Rock On Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton - Video

This is the funniest Chris Rock performance I've ever seen. The video speaks for itself. Chris Rock says that Barack Obama will be the next President of The United States.

Veronica Stars In Wackiest Video I've Ever Seen

This is simply the wackiest video I've ever seen. "Veronica" is bored. She's home for Spring Break with nothing to do. So she creates her own fun using her camcorder. The clip is set to some pretty jumpin' 70s disco dance music that's right for the occasion. I got a kick out of it.

Here it is:

Philip de Vellis Is Creator Of "1984-Hillary" Video - MacBook and Apple Wins Again!

Thanks to the Huffington Post , we have the identity of the person who created the 1984-Hillary video. His name is Phillip de Vellis.

According to records, Philip de Vellis was the Deputy Director of Internet Communications for Wal-Mart Watch, nationwide public education campaign to challenge the world’s largest retailer to become a better employer, neighbor, and corporate citizen. Prior to working on the Kerry-Edwards campaign in Cleveland, OH, Philip was a commercial editor in Los Angeles for 5 years.

He's also got a channel on YouTube competitor Blip.tv.

Now, he works -- or did work -- Blue State Digital , where he was a strategist. But he says he made the video on his off hours using his Mac computer and video editing software to alter an updated version of a classic Apple ad that aired during the Super Bowl in 1984. (The Black MacBook's my computer of choice -- I have that one and a White MacBook, too.)

Phil was invited to tell his story at The Huffington Post. He wrote:

Hi. I'm Phil. I did it. And I'm proud of it.

I made the "Vote Different" ad because I wanted to express my feelings about the Democratic primary, and because I wanted to show that an individual citizen can affect the process. There are thousands of other people who could have made this ad, and I guarantee that more ads like it--by people of all political persuasions--will follow.



Damn right.

So Apple emerges as the real winner in the 2008 Presidential race. Someone call Steve Jobs!

But my previous point about the very real possibility of using this technology to re-create history is still an active one. It could happen.

I don't think this is a set back for the Obama campaign. Hey, the guy was a little over zealous, but he did create a classic video and it has a message that resonates with many people.

"1984" - Hillary Clinton Video / Fictional Video Of Mit Romney With Paris Hilton?

I was talking with a person who's been following the story behind the now famous "1984" Hillary Clinton video and had some questions for me regarding it's impact on the 2008 Presidential Race. One of the questions was what this watershed video meant for the future of political campaigns.

My response was that the real concern is that we're in an era where someone can create a video that in effect "distorts history" by showing a political candidate doing something that in point of fact they never even did. Say a video showing Mit Romney grouping Paris Hilton in Las Vegas. The question is should such a video be removed from the video distribution system -- say, YouTube or Blip.tv -- it was uploaded to?

My answer is yes it should. But I think we should have a public discussion on this matter before it happens.