What A Slacker!

Video Cameras Everywhere

Add comment January 15th, 2008

Have we gone too far? Are we getting closer to fulfilling Orwell’s prophecy in 1984? Is big brother watching us? Well yes, we have and he is, but big brother is not always what you think it is. There are video cameras everywhere now. We cannot get away from them so I suppose we must learn to live with them. Cameras point at us from the corners of most every room in public buildings and from street corners. They are there for our protection and safety. Aren’t they? But what about all those personal cameras used to catch our every move. Almost every cell phone has video now and so do the small pocket digital cameras. With nearly every human carrying around a handy digital video camera we never know who or what is being taped or where that tape is going to end up. With the popularity of YouTube and sites like it we will never see the end of this privacy invasion. We as a society must learn to adapt. We must learn to behave if we can. I don’t know if we that is possible. Perhaps we need to add basic manners and social skills to school curriculum. Not that it would matter much as it might already be too late. The worst thing is no one really seems to care. The stuff they see or do anymore doesn’t even embarrass them.

Heaven help us when we start taping and watching each other twenty-four seven. Oh wait, that is already happening. In April Justin. tv was supposed to do just that (I have not checked it out as I have no interest in it). But what about privacy? Doesn’t this require the permission of those people taped before being aired?

Who gives them the right to make money off of me, my image, my likeness? I didn’t sign a model release or contract. Does the average Joe now need to go out and get an agent just so they can get a piece of this pie? You know they cannot do this without making money on it so how do I go about protecting my rights and my interests? This then brings me back to YouTube. They sell ad space even ads right on the videos now. Do I as the producer, director, and writer of these videos get a portion of those profits? I doubt it. In fact I would bet that the terms of service agreement we all ignore, but all agree to, says we get nothing. Perhaps we should strike like the writers in Hollywood and not post to these sites that are making money off our videos.

I used to belong to a site that allowed you to post your own stories. It was very similar to today’s blogs. But they shared their ad revenue with the site contributors. Helium does this to some degree. Other community created sites should think about doing this sort of thing too. Google is working on a site similar to wikipedia and you know they will get money out of it. Shouldn’t the writers for that site make money from their articles? About.com pays their guides to write on the topics they know best. In fact wikipedia should verify their info (hope I haven’t shocked anyone by insinuating that the almighty wikipedia has incorrect information in it) and share any generated revenue with their contributors.

Web 2.0 screams contributor based content. I scream right back at it pay me for the content I post to your site then I will consider posting it there. Otherwise it is mine and I am keeping it. So don’t tape me, photograph me or quote me unless you plan on paying me.

Pay-Per-Play a New Way to Monetize Your Site

Add comment January 15th, 2008

When I first heard the term pay-per-play I thought it had to do with online videos or games. It doesn’t. It has everything to do with making money from your website.

If you are like me you are not making enough money off those Google ads you have all over your website are you? People just don’t seem to be clicking through on those any more, do they? What would you do if I told you that you could get paid for every visitor to your site and not just the few who actually click through and leave your site? Most people wouldn’t believe it. I didn’t until I checked out Net Audio Ads.

What’s that? Well, it is pretty much what it says it is audio ads on your website and you get paid every time one of them plays for one of your visitors. The ads are short, only five seconds long and each visitor only gets one ad so they don’t hate you while they are on your site. Five seconds is hardly enough time to annoy anyone. You see or should I say hear them all over the place these days so why shouldn’t you benefit from them too? Like those Google ads everyone is ignoring these days the pay-per-play ads are related to the content on your website by spidering your site. I see this as a great opportunity for publishers and advertisers a like.

By the fine folks who bring you Net Audio Ads.

Hunter Dan What A Man

1 comment January 15th, 2008

Hunter Dan is the all American action figure. Or maybe I should say he is the all American redneck action figure (only thing he is missing is the beer can and the mullet). There are several varieties of the Hunter Dan action figure to meet the needs of any would be animal killer. He even has a girl friend Hunter Ann.

Choose from the Archery or Rifle Hunter Dan or Hunter Ann each 8” figure comes with all the accessories one needs while out in the field tracking down that trophy buck. (You can even buy accessory animals for Dan to kill.)

Also available is Duck Hunter Dan, Bass Angler Dan, Elk Hunter Dan, Goose Hunter Dan and Turkey Hunter Dan.

But don’t forget to get him is faith black lab, Hank.

Watch out for the occasional hunting accident as my Hunter Dan has two right feet!

Dry Clean Your Hair

Add comment January 15th, 2008

It never ceases to amaze me at how far science can take us. Now you can dry clean your hair with Salon Grafix’s Dry Shampoo line This is perfect for people on the go or for use between your normal washing. When I was in the hospital I had a similar product to use since I could not take a shower and I thought how great this would be if you could find this out in the real world. Well guess what you can at SalonGrafix.com. And this is not just any shampoo either. You color match your hair to revitalize and cleanse on the go.

It brushes out easily leaving your hair clean without any white or oily residue. All you get is clean, shiny hair. What more could you ask for when you’re in a hurry?

Running late for work or never made it home the night before? Make sure you have some dry shampoo stashed in the office for just those types of emergencies. And speaking of emergencies what about at home when the electricity goes out and you still need to look good for work or a date. Better get another bottle for the home. And don’t forget to pack some if you are going to be roughing it. Who wants to wash their hair in a freezing cold stream? Not me that’s for sure.

Reality TV Sucks

Add comment January 14th, 2008

I have never been a fan of reality television I just don’t get the appeal, especially the appeal of shows that only seem to stress the ugliness of the human race. If I want to see all those people fighting and backstabbing, I would simply go to more family reunions or watch the news. There is enough stress in ones own life without adding more on TV. Thank goodness the reality series seems to be falling out of favor. I know I will jump for joy when they are finally all gone or we have returned to calling them game shows (that is what they are after all game shows).

This fall had brought us a lot of new series, good series. Series that could have helped bring about the fall of reality (aka crap) programming. But thanks to the writer’s strike many of these shows had to stop production and may not survive the strike. Here is a list of new shows that I hope will not be killed by this strike: Chuck, Pushing Daisies, Reaper, Bionic Woman

But apparently it has not hurt the reality shows. Funny because isn’t one of the strike terms about getting residuals, from those reality shows. If they are real shouldn’t they be unscripted and therefore not need writers? So my thoughts on the matter are kill all the reality (or should I say so-called reality) shows and then they don’t have pay the writers for anything. Just be gone with them.

On a side note I am on the side of the writers. They should get the money they deserve for their creations. Even though I would not get anything for the things I create for my employer it belongs to them to do with, as they like. I can only hope I would get a bonus if I wrote something that made them money, but I do dream.

Affordable Prescription Eyeglasses

Add comment January 14th, 2008

Recently I found myself, my face and my glasses being smashed by an airbag. We had a near head on collision with another driver that turned in front of us. So needless to say I was in need of a new pair of glasses. I hunted high and low for glasses I could afford since no one would bill the auto insurance. If I had found this “Great Discovery: $ 8 Zenni Optical Rx Eyeglassess” maybe I wouldn’t have minded shelling out the money for my glasses first. Heck, I could have gotten my replacement glasses and sunglasses for a fraction of what only my standard eyewear cost me. Unfortunately, I found them too late for my glasses, but not for my Rx sunglasses.

Brought to you by the same folks who bring you $8 eyeglasses, Zenni Optical.

V for Vendetta

Add comment January 14th, 2008

Watching V for Vendetta again. Agent Smith from The Matrix (you know him as Hugo Weaving) makes a great masked vigilante known only as V. Man he has a very distinct voice. Natalie Portman gives an excellent performance and she doesn’t look half bad with a baldhead. (Unfortunately for this film Britney Spears had to have her break down causing me to see her instead of Ms. Portman during that scene in the film.)

This film has a strong message about intolerance and of the government taking away our rights and freedoms. Freedoms we often take for granted. If we don’t want a bleak future like the ones the films V for Vendetta and 1984 portray we must take the necessary actions to avoid them now. With 2008 being an election year now is the time to ensure we continue to enjoy the freedoms we do have and to make sure we extend those same freedoms to all human beings no matter their gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. Here’s hoping we make the right choice for all our futures.

YawpBox Video Challenges You For Content

Add comment January 14th, 2008

User generated television is the primary goal of YawpBox.com, but unlike AcceptibleTV they are not asking you to create mini television series they want your life story. You get to tell your story to a world wide audience via the website and to a TV audience based in Texas. I am not sure if the television series is or will be going national. In any case you get to have your fifteen minutes of fame thanks to YawpBox TV.

Unlike other online video sharing sites YawpBox offers up its content in categories. You choose which story you want to submit then upload original videos, photos, audio, and blog content then community members vote on your submissions. If you rate high enough from fellow Yawpers your story just might find its way to the YawpBox TV show. According to their website the magazine style TV show is filmed live in front of a television audience in Dallas, Texas using your content, your stories. Not simply reposting a clip from your local news shows without their consent.

The key to this site and I assume the television show too is to use community members stories, photos and video not to be a dumping ground for other people’s copyright material. Thus far it looks as if YawpBox.com needs help in that area as all I could find were photoshopped images, pictures from other sources and video commercials. The best video on the site that I could find was of a couple doing a dance routine at their own wedding. Heck Lex and Terry give you some great homework assignments via the national radio show and TV program so come on folks put on those thinking caps and take up their challenge. YawpBox needs your original content so get to posting. This idea has potential but from what I can see the users are not living up to it at this time.

Blackie Steve is Crazy

Add comment January 12th, 2008

Had dinner yesterday with friends [they probably figured something was wrong as my mood was starting to reflect my depression]. We went to The Works a fun place if you’re in the mood. They have a game room, bar and of course eats. It is kind of like a Chuck E. Cheese for adults. The foods okay but the atmosphere and friends are what makes it. Normally, this post would be about the so-so service we had or the fact that the food wasn’t really good, but not today. [Yes, my bad restaurant karma is still intact. I just have not been out of the house much since getting out of the hospital.]

There was a young couple with two kids at the table next to us. [Again this post would normally be geared towards chastising the parents for not watching the kids, but not today.] The little girl next to us was a little rambunctious but a little cutie. She and her mother had gone off to play games and came back with a toy dog on a leash. The leash was stiff like those old gag invisible dog leashes you used to be able to buy at the boardwalk. You could tell she was very proud of her new dog. I was a little afraid of being hit buy the toy or the child in my sore knee, which was sticking out from under the table in the line of fire.

Instead of being my normal bitchy self I decide to play nice with others and asked the little grrl what her new doggie’s name was. She answered me in a very 2-3 year old-ish version of the English language. Thank goddess her mommy was there to translate. I learned the new puppies name was Blackie Steve and he was crazy [that’s craaaze—Y!].

While I enjoyed our friends, I do have to admit that crazy ole Blackie Steve the little stuffed black lab on a leash was the highlight of my evening.

Depression, Despair, Destitution

Add comment January 12th, 2008

I am sitting here wondering if I will ever enjoy life again. How does one go about getting ones life back on track once you enter this dark place…[depression]

I am so desperate to feel something other than this pain. I am in physical pain from the accident, but even worse than that I am in emotional pain too. And that is the absolute worst. I don’t know what to do to make myself fell better… [despair]

I am okay for most of the day. It is now, late at night, that things get really bad. I don’t see a light at the end of this tunnel. In fact it feels more like a closed box than a tunnel. Everywhere I turn I hit a wall.

I am afraid to drive to work, but I need to work to pay the bills. I can’t work without pain [shoulder, legs, ribs, back and wrist all hurt, everyday]. I can’t live without working. I can’t deal with the pain without seeing the doctor. I can’t see the doctor without money. The money has run out so I have to work, but it hurts. One big vicious circle.

 I need a lawyer but have no idea what I am doing nor can I afford one. I can’t pay the doctor how can I pay a lawyer… [destitution]